Why are stories of giving so important?
Stories are a vitally important part of what it means to be human. Throughout history we have told stories to each other to make sense of the world; to communicate what we think and feel; and to convince others to share our visions and values.
Yet when it comes to philanthropy in the UK, the stories that we need to hear are too often hidden or have not been told yet. Most donors continue to fly well below the radar, and media focus on philanthropy (where it exists) tends either to be critical or to concentrate on a small handful of high-profile donors (and will often focus more on their personal lives and business activities than on what their giving achieves).
As a result, our understanding of what philanthropic giving is and the difference it can make is sorely lacking.
What we are doing
To address the lack of compelling narratives, we set out to collect stories about the difference that philanthropy has made in the UK to the lives of people and communities around the country; and to the work of charities, community groups, arts organisations and educational institutions.
We have collected an initial group of diverse and inspiring stories from around the country that we are sharing for anyone to use. We are also offering an invitation that if you have been inspired and want to share your own story about the difference philanthropy has made, you can do so through this website.
Over time we want this collection of stories to grow and become a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand what philanthropy looks like in modern Britain and the role that it plays.
By helping people and organisations around the UK to share their own stories about the impact philanthropy has had on their work and their lives, our hope is that we can help to foster better understanding and a more positive narrative which ultimately leads to a richer culture of giving in the UK.