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Launched in March 2019, the European philanthropy manifesto (EPM) argues for the introduction of a single market for philanthropy. Examining the historic precedents of that idea and the recommendations put forward in the EPM to achieve the single market, in this policy review we critically reflect on the potential and shortcomings of the EPM.
This research note argues that pragmatic sociology is a useful theoretical framework when researching the third sector during the uncertain times of COVID-19 and beyond. It begins by introducing pragmatic sociology, which describes how actors express their values through the ‘orders of worth’ framework, and then how they justify their practices during moments of conflict, through the process of ‘tests’. This ultimately employs complex and fragile moments in history to uncover meaning making and, by extension, individual and organisational practice. This article then demonstrates useful research questions that pragmatic sociology can offer for the third sector during this uncertain time and how this theory’s utility can be applied even after the pandemic, due to its embracement of organisational dynamism, nuance and a fresh approach to power relationships.
This article explores the role and use of evidence by actors involved in the policy debate on sex offender community notification in the summer of 2000. It examines what was considered as evidence, how it was used and by which actors. It highlights the wide and fluid nature of evidence and the rapidity with which it can infuse policy debates. Although evidence was used strategically and tactically by most actors, the policy debate was well informed. Overall, the relationship between evidence and policy that emerges is a far cry from the ‘two communities’ view of evidence providers and evidence users.
Recent policy emphases in the United Kingdom (UK) show growing attention to localism interconnected with philanthropy. This appears to offer significant opportunities for community foundations – geographically embedded multi-purpose charities envisaged as combining various grant-making roles with community leadership. Using a theoretical framework derived from political geography, we explore and conceptualise how community foundations conceive and operationalise their community leadership role across the UK’s localism discourses; we find their strategies and approaches to be differentiated rather than shared. This challenges the understanding of ‘community foundations’ as a single model in its UK expression and questions their envisaged potential as collective pan-UK lead-players within localism policy.
Given its strong research base, separate administrative systems and consensual policy style, Scotland provides an interesting case for exploring the relationship between research and policy. This paper outlines approaches and initiatives developed by government, research funders and universities to promote better linkages between research and policy within Scotland. It illustrates how these play out through the example of the Scottish Early Years Framework and reflects on: the overall character of these initiatives; their success to date; some of the concerns they raise; and the extent to which these developments address those features generally associated with effective practices to increase research impact.
