Workshop: Is Philanthropy the solution to funding the Big Society? (2011)

Held in association with the ESRC Research Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy.

One of the most vocal criticisms of the ideas collectively gathered under the Big Society agenda is that communities still need to be resourced in a period of public spending cutbacks. The Big Society will not come for free. Yet one of the Big Ideas is that the knowledge, drive and money of major philanthropists can replace government funding, with America's multi-billion dollar Giving Pledge used as an example of what can be achieved. But is Philanthropy really a viable solution in our UK market? And what sort of Big Society would Philanthropists build?

This workshop will discuss these questions and more, helping you to see how philanthropists could, or could not, be used effectively in the Big Society.

Chair: Cathy Pharoah, ESRC Research Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy

Panellists: (from left to right)

Michael Green co-author of Philanthrocapitalism: How giving can save the world @shepleygreen
Michael Edwards Independent writer and activist, @edwarmi

Speaker Biographies

Further reading:

• A synopsis of Philanthrocapitalism: How giving can save the world
• The latest overview of charitable giving and philanthropy by CAF and NCVO
• The Government's Green Paper on the future of charitable giving

Questions, comments?

Post a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.