Over the course of two months in America I was privileged enough to visit and chat with about 27 nonprofits across three states, all doing great work in the human services field, all with strengths and challenges, and all with a view on what it means to be a nonprofit in America today. I want …
Continue reading American Fields: reflections on Nonprofit America (part 2)
Over the course of two months in America I was privileged enough to visit and chat with about 27 nonprofits across three states, all doing great work in the human services field, all with strengths and challenges, and all with a view on what it means to be a nonprofit in America today. I want … Continue reading American Fields: reflections on Nonprofit America (part 1)
Neighborhood House Seattle was founded as a Settlement House in 1906 by the National Council of Jewish Women, following in the tradition of the Settlement movement, pioneered by Canon Samuel Barnett’s Toynbee Hall in London and Jane Addams’ Hall House in Chicago (among many others – Settlement bingo is a fun [caveat] game to play). … Continue reading American Fields: the neighborhood approach
Ok, I promised you a blog on American tax law and nonprofit registration types, so here goes. (It’s really a blog on charity campaigning though, don’t worry.) To start with, here’s a table with the 29 different ways to be a nonprofit – or more explicitly to have tax-exempt status: (From Charity Navigator – thanks!) … Continue reading American Fields: how a tax code can silence a sector
As twitter followers will have gathered, I am currently in the USA. I’ve been given a handful of cash and some time off the PhD to go and find out what it’s like to be a non-profit or a community organisation in the States right now, in partnership with Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. This … Continue reading American Fields: a researcher abroad.
I am 30 years old at the end of September. I’d like to ask all of you for a birthday present: please help me raise £300 for FPA (the Family Planning Association). Here’s why. For over half my life I have been a volunteer. A lot of my volunteering life has been in sexual health. … Continue reading Help me celebrate my 30th birthday by celebrating the amazing FPA!
I decided a little while ago that my literature review wasn’t pretty enough. So I made this timeline of voluntary sector history instead. Enjoy! My research looks at how the local voluntary sector in Birmingham has developed from about 1965 onwards. The story of the national voluntary sector, and the policy, programmes and debates that … Continue reading What’s happened to the voluntary sector since 1965?
The National Archives and the Pilgrim Trust launched Archives Revealed last month, a new programme of grant funding for organisations including charities to scope archiving projects and create new collections. So I thought I’d share some charity histories that I’ve found over the past few weeks. Charity histories are important because they tell our stories in … Continue reading Telling Charity Histories
Every once in a while, when I mention that I’m a trustee, someone will say to me “Oh I’ve always wanted to do that. I think it’s something I’ll do later in my career, when I’ve got the experience.” I’m here to tell you to do it now – because you’ve got what you need, … Continue reading On why I’m a trustee (and why you should be too)
One of the best things I’ve done this year is become a trustee of a charity. I’ve been a trustee before, many years ago for Children’s Rights Alliance for England, which was a great experience and helped me learn about what’s involved in running an organisation. But that was a very different organisation and a … Continue reading New Year’s Resolution no. 2: making a mark as a trustee
Voluntary Action and Other Animals 