Publications

Published reports, occasional papers and notes of some of the more important meetings at the Baring Foundation are listed below in chronological order. They can be downloaded by clicking on the underlined heading links below.

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Forthcoming

Comparative essays: Independence in the Voluntary Sector. The Baring Foundation will be commissioning leading experts to look at the state of the sector in the four countries of the UK, Canada, USA and Germany.

2008

Report of a roundtable meeting on environmental auditing

Report of a roundtable meeting on the links between climate change and the charitable purposes of on non-environmental organisations

Report on Conference at Wilton Park ( a follow-up to the 2007 report "Going Global")
The Baring Foundation and the Nuffield Foundation part-funded in April a major conference at Wilton Park, the residential centre for the Foreign Office. The Partnerships for Development Forum brought together development experts, NGOs and foundations from the UK and abroad to look at the contribution private funding can make.

Arts and Refugees; History, Impact and Future
Along with two other funders, the Arts Council England, London and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Baring Foundation commissioned Hybrid Consultancy to look at work over the last fifteen years across the UK to involve refugees and asylum seekers in the arts. The researchers identified over 200 arts organisations working with refugees across all media. The report was launched at the Baring Foundation on 20th May. Hard copies of this publication are available free, while stocks last, from the Baring Foundation office.

Strengthening the Hands of Those Who Do: A Review of the Baring Foundation's Strengthening the Voluntary Sector Programme Project Grants by Margaret Bolton.
This programme ran between 1996 - 2005 and gave out hundreds of grants for organisational development worth up to £30k with an average value of £8k. This review looks at the impact of these grants on a random sample of 50 organisations. Hard copies of this publication are available free from the Baring Foundation office.

.Interculturalism: Theory and Policy by Malcolm James.
The Baring Foundation has decided to launch a Special Initiative on Interculturality - but what is 'interculturality' anyway? To help analyse the thinking behind what for many people is a new concept, we have commissioned this paper. Hard copies of this publication are available free from the Baring Foundation office.

2007

Baring Foundation Report on Activities 2007

Climate Change - Notes of a Core Costs Club Meeting.
In October 2007 our Core Costs Club met and discussed the topic of climate change and the third sector.

Same Difference? Revolving Doors Agency's approach to replicating innovation. For some time the Baring Foundation has had an interest in how good ideas in the voluntary sector are spread. In 2004 we part funded Diana Leat's report on replication (see below). This new paper is a case study by Revolving Doors Agency arising in part from work funded by the Foundation. It sets out seven lessons from their experience in a clear way and with relevance to many other charities.

Going Global: A review of international development funding by UK trusts and foundations by Lucy de Las Casas and Caroline Fiennes of New Philanthropy Capital. This report was commissioned by three funders of international development: the Nuffield Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and ourselves. It places trust funding within the broader context of government and individual donations. Trusts are a significant funder of civil society and highly valued by International NGOs. Indeed many small and medium sized INGOs rely on foundations for support. The researchers concentrated on somewhat smaller foundations and asked what motivates them or discourages them from funding internationally. The commissioning group wants to support others to fund overseas and if you are interested in doing this please phone the Director of the Baring Foundation, David Cutler on 0207 767 1414.

The Baring and John Ellerman Foundations International Development Programme Review 2006/2007 Review Report
by Trish Silkin. In late 2006 Trish Silkin was commissioned to review the joint international development programme run with the John Ellerman Foundation. Her recommendations were accepted by both Foundations.

STVS - independence grants programme - a summary. This is a short summary of the STVS - independence grants programme setting out why the Foundation is interested in this issue and sharing results of the research carried out so far.

STVS - independence - submission to the Public Administration Select Committee
In March 2007 the Baring Foundation made a submission to the Public Administration Select Committee's Inquiry on Commissioning from the Third Sector. This built on the evidence generated by the Strengthening the Voluntary Sector - independence grants programme.

Interculturalism - notes of a Core Costs Club meeting
In February 2007 our Core Costs Club met and discussed the topic of interculturality.

Sources of Strength: an analysis of applications to the STVS independence programme by Cathy Pharoah.
This is the second publication in the series of papers that accompanies the Foundation's Strengthening the Voluntary Sector independence programme. It contains an analysis of most of the 515 applications to the STVS independence programme, which are an important source of information about current pressures on independence.
Click here to read the speech given by the Foundation's Deputy Director, Matthew Smerdon, at the launch of "Sources of Strength".

Foundations for Organisational Development: Practice in the UK and USA by Meg Abdy and Margaret Bolton The Baring Foundation has co-funded this publication with the Northern Rock Foundation. It is written by two independent consultants with considerable experience in the field. Hard copies of this publication are free from the Baring Foundation while stocks last.

2006

Baring Foundation Report on Activities 2006

Core Costs Club meeting on Campaigning
Note of a meeting of the Core Costs Club held on 18 October 2006

Gains and Strains: The Voluntary Sector in the UK 1996-2006
Speech by Professor Nicholas Deakin C.B.E.

Allies not Servants
This is the first publication in a series of papers that accompanies the Foundation's Strengthening the Voluntary Sector independence programme. This publication sets out why the Foundation is interested in the issue of independence.

Exhibiting Support...developing volunteering in museums. This summary report was written by the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR) and commissioned by the Baring Foundation.
We gave three grants to very different museums to support their use of volunteers and asked IVR to evaluate how they got on and draw broader lessons. The result is a lively and practical report looking at the context to volunteering and drawing conclusions on recruitment and involvement, management, funding and learning about volunteers along with pointers to further resources.

Finding the Right Support? A review of the issues and positive practice in supporting parents with learning difficulties and their children by Beth Tarleton, Linda Ward and Joyce Howarth.
An increasing number of adults with learning difficulties are becoming parents. The Government has committed itself to providing appropriate support for these parents and their children and yet in around 50% of cases children are removed and placed permanently outside the family home. The report includes an agenda for action. The Baring Foundation has subsequently funded the Norah Fry Research Centre to lead a consortium to pursue these recommendations.

Finding the Right Support? Summary

Finding the Right Support? Plain Facts version for people with learning difficulties.

A meeting of the Core Costs Club on the Compact held on 8th March.

2005

Baring Foundation Report on Activities 2005

Filling Gaps and Making Spaces edited by John Twigg.
This report brings together a collection of nine essays on projects funded by the Baring Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America since 2000. They all capacity build local voluntary organisations supporting refugees and internally displaced people. The Foundation's international adviser, John Twigg, considers the implications of this body of experience for other funders and for the British Government.

Small Arts Grants 1997-2004: An Overview by Phyllida Shaw.
Over this period the Baring Foundation received 3,328 eligible applications and awarded 535 grants worth £1.75 million. Most grants were around £5,000. The Foundation's Arts Adviser analyses these applications, trends over time and puts them in context of changes in wider arts funding policy. The Foundation continues to fund the arts and details of our current programme can be found on the Programmes page of this website.

Sources of Funding for Organisational Development by Marketa Dolezel.
This resource was written by a Visiting Fellow to the Foundation from the Czech Republic. Readers should be aware that information on funding dates quickly and should check this carefully with the relevant funder.

Support for Diaspora Organisations in London Following the Asian Tsunami by Ellie Robinson.
A small scale piece of research on the experience of 21 mainly London based organisations after the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. These groups provided money and other forms of support to the victims. The report looks how these organisations could be better supported by other funders.

2004

Baring Foundation Report on Activities 2004

The Grantmaking Tango: Issues for Funders by Julia Unwin.
This book asks 'what sort of funder do you want to be?' It goes on to give a simple framework for grant makers of giving, shopping and investing as styles of funding. It is based on over ten years experience in the field by the author and has become an indispensable guide to reflective trusts and foundations. Funded by the Abbey Charitable Trust, Bridge House Trust, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundations and the Baring Foundation.

Speaking Truth to Power - 2004 by Julia Unwin.
This paper looks back to the experience of the third sector in the first term of the Labour Government. It draws attention to measures that would enhance the relationship between the sector and Government, arguing that both would suffer if the voice of the voluntary sector was confined.

2003

Baring Foundation Report on Activities 2003

Replicating Successful Voluntary Sector Projects by Diana Leat.
Why don't successful voluntary sector projects spread more widely? In seeking to answer this question, this report is based in a literature review, case studies and interviews with funders. It concludes with a series of recommendations. It outlines seven stages in the process of replication. Published by the Association of Charitable Foundations with funding from the Baring Foundation, Community Fund, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
Hard copies of this report can be obtained from The Association of Charitable Foundations

2000 - 2002

Leading the Way to ICT Success (2002) by Paul Ticher, Aba Maison (lasa) and Martin Jones (AdviceNow).
Most senior managers and board members are not ICT experts, so working out how best to use technology is something of a journey into the unknown. Nevertheless there are those who negotiate this journey successfully. This study aims to identify what we can learn from seeing how some voluntary organisations are reaching their desired ICT destinations. The report argues that senior managers who are well-informed and confident about their ICT strategy are the key to success. These managers do not have to be experts but they do need access to reliable advice in non-technical language. The report makes recommendations on how senior managers, board members, umbrella bodies, funders and other agencies can support and develop the leadership that voluntary and community organisations need to take advantage of the opportunities that ICT offers.

This report is funded by the Baring Foundation and the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.

You can order a free hard copy of the report by email or telephone (020 7767 1348) or write to The Baring Foundation, 60 London Wall, London EC2M 5TQ.

Capacity building and its challenges: by Dr John Twigg. A review of the Baring Foundation's International Grants Programme 1997-1999 (2001).
This review examines the nature and achievements of projects funded by the Baring Foundation's international programme between 1997 and 1999, to assess their impact, and to consider lessons for future capacity-building initiatives.

 

Merging Interests (2000) by Bill Mather.
This book seeks to guide the decision-makers in a voluntary organisation from the first moment of consideration of merger, through to full implementation. It offers advice to practitioners - trustees, directors and funders - on exploring the issues and pathways to achieve effective collaboration and join the forces of voluntary organisation with voluntary organisation. It outlines options and innovatory models of joint working as steps on the way to merger, or as alternative end results, providing insights and tools to help achieve best returns and avoid costly mistakes.

Health Action Zones (2000) by Julia Unwin and Peter Westland.
This study considers the ways in which the voluntary and community sectors have become involved in the Department of Health's Health Action Zones by presenting three case studies which highlight the challenges of forging meaningful partnerships between the voluntary and statutory sectors.

Speaking Truth to Power (2000) by Julia Unwin. The voluntary sector's relationship with Government.
This is a discussion paper about the changing relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector. It draws on the experience of, mainly, national organisations working in England to address a range of issues including the opportunities and challenges offered by engagement with a government which aims to be more consultative at both central and local levels.