360Giving

A new Prime Minister. A chance to build on what’s already working, and to go further. As Andy Burnham begins his time in office, he has spoken about doing politics differently: rebuilding trust, working more closely with communities and strengthening partnerships across and beyond government. At Funders Together, those ambitions resonate with us. We know that government, philanthropy and civil society each bring different resources, knowledge and relationships to the challenges facing our communities. We also know, from experience, how much more becomes possible when we bring them together. From better evidence about where funding is flowing, to collaborative approaches that pool resources and share responsibility for change, much of the infrastructure we need already exists. So do the relationships, learning and experience to build on it. Our invitation to the Prime Minister and his government is simple: work with us. Draw on what we know. Build on what we have learned. Bring public and philanthropic investment together more intentionally. And help us create the conditions for communities everywhere to shape their own futures. In this latest article, our CEO James Banks sets out what Funders Together can bring to that partnership, and why we believe this moment offers an opportunity to work differently, together. Read Working together for places and communities: An invitation to the Prime Minister: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQXZKbJi

UKGrantmaking 2026 isn't just for funders – it's a free, public resource charities can use too. Want to understand which types of funders are growing their giving, or where funding is shifting? The data lets you see trends by funder type, from foundations and Donor-Advised Funds to National Lottery distributors. Curious how your work compares to typical grant sizes, durations or purposes in your area? You can explore real patterns in what's being funded, and to whom - including grants to individuals and families, where issues like financial hardship and mental health are among the most common reasons for support. UKGrantmaking 2026 launched in June – take a look and see what it means for your work https://lnkd.in/eHCX7R3j

Does where a funder is based reflect where their money reaches? Less than you might think. This year's 'Focus: Geography' section on UKGrantmaking looks at where funders are registered, where they operate, and what published grants data can (and can't) tell us about where funding actually reaches. Across the four UK nations, the picture varies significantly - 86% of registered trusts and foundations have an address in England, but the majority of their spending is by funders operating UK-wide or internationally  - In Scotland, most registered trusts and foundations operate only within Scotland, and two-thirds of their grantmaking spend is by Scotland-focused funders. - In Wales, a small number of larger foundations account for a significant share of spend, with many Welsh-registered funders also working beyond Wales. - In Northern Ireland, grantmaking is strongly concentrated locally, with 87% of spend from Northern Ireland-registered trusts and foundations going through funders operating only within Northern Ireland. Explore UKGrantmaking for the full breakdown https://lnkd.in/eFEXyf3d

This week is London Data Week 🎉 – a citywide festival exploring how data can shape our city, and our sector, for the better. At 360Giving, we believe good decisions depend on good data, whether that's understanding where funding is flowing, identifying gaps or helping funders and charities make sense of a complex picture. At the end of June, we launched UKGrantmaking 2026, bringing together data on £24 billion in grants made by over 14,000 grantmakers in 2024-25. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the key findings and insights, including what the data tells us about grantmaking in London: https://lnkd.in/eHCX7R3j The data we have about grant recipients is possible because of the funders who publish open grants data. The more funders who publish their data, the more complete and useful that picture becomes – for funders, charities, researchers and policymakers alike. Find out more about publishing your data: https://lnkd.in/ezwdgMnc #LondonDataWeek #LDW

What does grantmaking to individuals look like in practice? Across more than 100 ACO member charities, around £155 million was distributed directly to individuals and families in 2024-25 – a slight fall on the previous year but still above 2022-23 levels. Grants were most commonly awarded to individuals affected by poor mental health and financial hardship, with furniture and appliances the most common purpose of grants awarded. ACO Chief Executive Donal Watkin describes a sector shifting focus from short term emergency response toward longer-term, holistic support, even as financial hardship remains widespread. Read the full blog https://lnkd.in/e6RVWevu

Small grants are getting bigger, while large grants are becoming more concentrated. Community foundations are place-based funders, connecting communities and supporting grassroots organisations in neighbourhoods across the UK. The majority of community foundations in the UK provided between £1 million and £10 million in grants in 2024-25, with increases and decreases across the group but no consistent trend. UKCF’s Sam Grimmett Batt explores what this shifting picture means for place-based giving, and how smaller organisations in particular are still struggling to secure the longer-term funding they need. “Longer-term, place-based funding, when done well, is one of the most powerful ways to amplify community voices in funding decisions and to ensure that funding remains closely aligned with what communities themselves identify is needed.” Read more about place-based giving https://lnkd.in/evz63JSm

The latest data from UKGrantmaking shows total grant funding grew by 4% in 2024-25, slightly above inflation. But the context behind this is far from straightforward. Some funders increased giving, others reduced it, and many maintained existing levels of support. London Funders reflects on why a shared, data-driven understanding of this picture matters more than ever, drawing on themes from their recent Festival of Learning, where data emerged as key to building a less fragmented, more responsive funding ecosystem. Read the blog for more insights https://lnkd.in/eytAGs3k

Foundation funding remains essential – it represents one third of all grants awarded. The data presented in this edition of UKGrantmaking shows that foundation giving rose again in 2024-25, to £8.4 billion, but for the first time in years, it didn't keep pace with inflation. What's the story behind this? ACF's Catherine Seymour explains how last year's slowdown may reflect a short-term correction rather than a change of direction. The overall spending trend still points upward, with foundations collectively spending more than they were two years ago. In a time when the pressures on grantseekers are real and structural, the question isn't only how much foundations give, it's also how they give. Read the full blog https://lnkd.in/etibS798

Who gives grants in the UK, and how has that picture changed? We launched UKGrantmaking 2026 last week, bringing together data on over 14,000 grantmakers across Government, Trusts and Foundations, National Lottery distributors, Donor-Advised Funds, and Charities – showing not just how much was given in 2024-25, but who gave it. Trusts and Foundations remain the largest group, with over 13,400 organisations collectively giving grants of £8.4 billion. Government grantmaking saw an increase of 3% in grantmaking since 2023-24, to £6.9 billion. Despite this activity, grantmaking still represents only an estimated 18-22% of the voluntary sector's total income. Explore UKGrantmaking 2026 for more on the grantmaking picture https://lnkd.in/eHCX7R3j

The rich insights on grants and recipients available at UKGrantmaking 2026 are thanks to the funders who openly publish their grants data. If you're not one of them yet, here's where to start. 📝 New to publishing? We offer comprehensive, online guidance and resources to help you get started. 🗓️ Want to hear more? Join an upcoming Introduction to Publishing workshop to get a complete overview of what publishing your grants data involves. 📞 Want tailored advice? Book a 1-1 publisher support call to discuss specific questions. The more funders who publish, the clearer and more complete the UK grantmaking picture becomes, for everyone. Find out more about publishing your data https://lnkd.in/ezwdgMnc