NEWS9 December 2009

Institute of Fundraising to form charity research body

Features UK

UK— The Institute of Fundraising is to form a new think tank to focus on the research needs of charities, such as examining donor behaviour, which it says is “desperately needed” to improve the success of fundraising activities.

The institute decided to create the new think tank after withdrawing from the Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy because of a “lack of research that has practical application for fundraisers”.

Lindsay Boswell (pictured), the Institute’s CEO, said: “I have attended the last two advisory boards and have pushed for fundraising research that responds to knowledge gaps and will help fundraisers raise more money. Without some form of analysis of the fundraising research out there and then an analysis of the gaps it is difficult to see how this can be achieved.”

The institute’s new think tank will be developed over the next six months and focus on topics including the relationship between hard and soft donor benefits, product development matched against donor motivation and examining donor behaviour.

Research will be commissioned in conjunction with all key stakeholder groups, and a steering panel made up of charities will be formed.

Stephen Lee, a professor at Henley Business School, has been appointed to lead the new think tank.

James Verrinder

Features UK

@RESEARCH LIVE

2 Comments

Marketest

15 years ago

It is good to help social enterprise world with their market research. More research will help them to raise more money indeed. That is why we have decided to help social enterprise project as well, by carrying out their market research for half price! Good luck to all social projects! http://www.marketest.co.uk

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Peter Maple

15 years ago

This is really good news. Take a further look at just how poorly the sector does in terms of fundraising research (www.agofwks.blogspot.com) and tell me what you think we really, really, need.

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