People have to feel like they matter and have a voice. Place-based giving is about devolving power to communities and trusting them to make decisions. Power needs to be relinquished and redistributed, and that has its risks. This is a 21st Century way for funders with deep roots to use their trust, knowledge and connections. It’s a different way of working, collaborating with people who know and care deeply about their boroughs. The effect is not just more money or volunteering, it is new alliances, discovering common interests, new thinking, shifting of resources and systems change
- Kristina Glenn, Director of Islington Giving from its launch in 2010 until 2019
Place Based Giving schemes are empowering people, businesses and organisations to come together to create change with their communities.
Based on the notion that we can all give something - time, skills and money - place based giving schemes bring together these resources in a local area, and work collaboratively to think about the best way to use them.
What is a Place Based Giving Scheme?
A Place Based Giving Scheme (PBGS) is a partnership, initiative, or organisation which understands, highlights, and responds to local needs. It brings new resources and approaches into a borough and creates better solutions through working together. Key activities include some or all of fundraising, volunteering, in-kind giving, grant-making, capacity-building, influencing and convening. You can read more in our Place Based Giving FAQs
Every scheme is different because every area is different and so are the needs and aspirations of its residents. Diversity is its strength. Every place based giving scheme can become a pioneer and test new ideas and approaches which others can learn from and replicate.
The Principles of Place-Based Giving
The main conclusion London’s Giving has reached from over a decade of walking alongside PBGSs is ‘it’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it’. In 2022 we came together to review the core principles which underpin place-based giving approaches:
- We connect people and foster collaboration, bringing together residents and the public, private and voluntary sectors
- We empower local people to take action on the issues that affect them
- We speak up about inequality and challenge ourselves and our partners to do better
In May 2020, we published 'The Power of People, Partnerships and Place' which shared lessons from the movement. We've since published a number of other resources building on the learning so far. Our 2022 Impact report is a good place to look if you want to get inspired or learn more about the work underway by place based giving schemes in London.
London Funders is committed to supporting effective local place based giving schemes to be able to respond appropriately and ambitiously to local opportunities and conditions. We recognise that this collaborative approach in place takes time and patience. Place based giving schemes need to develop sustainable local partnerships in order to grow their reach and impact. Effective schemes need long term commitment and investment from partners and a team with strong capacity and skills.
Our Resources and Publications page provides a range of learning, links and ideas for giving schemes and those considering developing them to draw on. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to find out about the practical support our London’s Giving project can offer.