Publications
Read NPC's latest research reports below, follow links at the bottom of the page to read older reports, or see examples of NPC's charity analysis.
if you are interested in supporting our research, see the list of research reports for which NPC is currently seeking funding.
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2010 reports
New facilities, new funding: A proposed financing model from Scope
Fundraising for capital appeals is enormously time consuming and runs the risk of cannibalising the charity’s other donations. Alternative models that speed up the process of replacing unsuitable buildings are therefore needed. This paper explores how charities can use loans and social investment successfully to finance capital projects. It is the result of a project NPC carried out for the disability charity Scope, exploring the potential benefits and challenges of a financing model developed by the charity.
NPC perspectives: Scaling up for the Big Society
The new government faces entrenched social problems and the challenge of reducing the budget deficit. Its Big Society idea seems to imply a beguilingly simple solution: use charities to fix social problems and at the same time reduce government borrowing. In Scaling up for the Big Society NPC argues that charities and social enterprises have an important role to play if this idea is to become reality. The paper also suggests ways to assess evidence of impact and social benefit, and provides guidance on what to scale up and how to do it.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) position paper
As a leading voice in the field of charity effectiveness, NPC has been asked several times for its perspective on SROI. The paper sets out our position on how and when SROI is most useful, based on our experience of working with charities and on our understanding of SROI in principle and practice. It discusses what NPC sees as the defining characteristics of SROI and seeks to clarify and set straight some common misunderstandings.
Count me in: Improving numeracy in England, a guide for charities and funders
Count me in looks at approaches to dealing with poor numeracy among children and adults in England.
The report, aimed at charities and funders, ccalls for a new National Numeracy Trust to be set up to raise numeracy standards across the whole population.
Well-informed: Charities and commissioners on results reporting, A National Performance Programme report for charities, funders and support providers
Well-informed focuses on how charities communicate results information to commissioners, and how commissioners use this information. NPC's report highlights how better understanding of results reporting on both sides can help charities to improve their funding applications and their reporting, and commissioners to make appropriate demands for results information and improve their own use of it.
The business of philanthropy: Building the philanthropy advice market
NPC's report explores how to stimulate the provision and take up of philanthropy advice. The report provides an analysis of the state of philanthropy advice in the UK. It also sets out concrete proposals for developing the philanthropy advice market.
NPC's manifesto for social impact
The election offers a great opportunity for government to review and improve the way it works with charities and philanthropists. With the recession, now more than ever, there needs to be a sharper focus on social impact. NPC's manifesto puts forward six recommendations that could improve social impact, focused on supporting charity effectiveness and supporting effective philanthropy.
Trial and error: Children and young people in trouble with the law, a guide for charities and funders
NPC’s report, Trial and error, explores the issue of youth offending and highlights some of the innovative and promising ways that charities are helping young people to stay out of trouble. The report, aimed at charities and funders, examines strengths and weaknesses within the youth justice sector, outlines the role government plays, and highlights areas where investment could create greatest impact.
NPC's guide to analysing charities, for charities and funders: The little blue book
The little blue book is NPC's concise and practical guide to analysing charities. The guide contains examples of how charities and funders can benefit from analysis, and explains NPC’s charity analysis framework.