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  • A Shared Interest: The relationships between policymakers and charities

    A Shared Interest: The relationships between policymakers and charities

    This new PBE study for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society is the most comprehensive review of the social sector’s interactions with policymakers ever conducted. Read more

  • Mind the Giving Gap: Unleashing the potential of UK philanthropy

    Mind the Giving Gap: Unleashing the potential of UK philanthropy

    The latest PBE study for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society looks at how falling participation in philanthropy, a decline in average giving by the wealthiest, and persistently unclaimed Gift Aid have combined to create a three-fold ‘giving gap’. Read more

  • Pandemic Scars and the Charity Sector

    Pandemic Scars and the Charity Sector

    New survey research into how the charity sector's success in supporting people during the pandemic has come at the cost of the workforce's health and wellbeing. Read more

  • Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy

    Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy

    Improving the UK's literacy can not only help individuals to progress into higher earning roles, but it can also insulate them from sector-specific downturns as seen during the pandemic. Read more

  • A Shared Interest: The relationships between policymakers and charities
  • Mind the Giving Gap: Unleashing the potential of UK philanthropy
  • Pandemic Scars and the Charity Sector
  • Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy
  • Next
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  1. Research & policy

Research & policy

PBE’s research and policy team uses the toolkit of economics to better understand and support the social sector.

We build on the insights derived from our charity projects to investigate how social sector organisations can get the most out of their resources. We develop ideas to support a thriving civil society and use data to grow the evidence base for action.

Unleashing the power of civil society

Unleashing the power of civil society

Following two years of research, the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, carried out by Pro Bono Economics, has published its landmark final report. Read more

Published: 26th January, 2023

Author: Charlotte Warren

Productivity of purpose: Bringing charities into the UK's productivity drive

Productivity of purpose: Bringing charities into the UK's productivity drive

This latest research for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society explores the importance of productivity in the social sector and the vital work required to boost it. Read more

Published: 20th January, 2023

Author: Charlotte Warren

Hands in the air like you just do care

Hands in the air like you just do care

After years of decline in formal volunteering, new survey data and polling suggests a rise in 2023. Read more

Published: 30th December, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Breaching the dam: The state of the charity sector

Breaching the dam: The state of the charity sector

The Q4 2022 VCSE Sector Barometer shows rising demand, rising costs, income deterioration and service cuts in some organisations. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2022

Updated: 29th December, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Lights out: The charity sector's energy bills

Lights out: The charity sector's energy bills

New survey data reveals how the charity sector is struggling to adapt to the rise in energy bills, including some charities most critical to the response to the cost of living crisis. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2022

Updated: 29th December, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Guide to assessing wellbeing impacts in the charity sector

Guide to assessing wellbeing impacts in the charity sector

Wellbeing measurement offers a way to calculate cost-effectiveness of charity interventions, as this new guide shows Read more

Published: 15th December, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Making it count: Overcoming the barriers to better grant-making

Making it count: Overcoming the barriers to better grant-making

Drawing from a wide range of sources such as sector experts and infrastructure bodies, we highlight the four main barriers to more effective grant-making and recommendations to improve it. Read more

Published: 2nd December, 2022

Updated: 6th December, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Giving advice: The case for the FCA to act on philanthropy

Giving advice: The case for the FCA to act on philanthropy

New PBE research for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society calls for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to mandate training on philanthropy advice for financial advisors, among other recommendations. Read more

Published: 23rd November, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Paying their way: Extending the right to work to all survivors of modern slavery

Paying their way: Extending the right to work to all survivors of modern slavery

An analysis for Hestia looking at how extending the right to work to all potential survivors of modern slavery could generate significant economic benefits to society. Read more

Published: 18th October, 2022

Updated: 15th November, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

The cost of giving - What UK charities need to know about inflation

The cost of giving - What UK charities need to know about inflation

High levels of inflation are set to persist for some time. This briefing, in partnership with CAF, sets out the challenges for charities' staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, donors and finances. Read more

Published: 14th September, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

The price of purpose? Pay gaps in the charity sector

The price of purpose? Pay gaps in the charity sector

New PBE research for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society analysing the size of the pay gap between the charity sector and the rest of the economy. Read more

Published: 22nd August, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Giving pains: The cost of grant-making

Giving pains: The cost of grant-making

New research assessing the cost of foundation funding applications Read more

Published: 27th July, 2022

Updated: 31st October, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Stopping the spiral: Children and young people’s services spending 2010-11 to 2020-21

Stopping the spiral: Children and young people’s services spending 2010-11 to 2020-21

An analysis of spending on early and late intervention services for children and young people in England over the last decade. Read more

Published: 19th July, 2022

Updated: 5th August, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Seizing the philanthropic prize - The role of the UK government in growing philanthropy

Seizing the philanthropic prize - The role of the UK government in growing philanthropy

Boosting collaboration between the government and the philanthropy sector is essential to growing charitable giving. Read more

Published: 16th June, 2022

Updated: 28th June, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

Second Wave: Charities and the Spring Statement 2022

Second Wave: Charities and the Spring Statement 2022

PBE's analysis of the Chancellor's Spring Statement and the latest OBR figures, what they mean for the people charities serve, charity demand and finances. Read more

Published: 23rd March, 2022

Updated: 22nd April, 2022

Author: Charlotte Warren

A tunnel at the end of the light: Charities and the cost-of-living crisis

A tunnel at the end of the light: Charities and the cost-of-living crisis

New analysis on the cost-of-living crisis' impact on low-income households and the charities supporting them. Read more

Published: 21st March, 2022

Updated: 9th September, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

Economic Outlook Briefing 2022/23

Economic Outlook Briefing 2022/23

Charity Finance Group (CFG) and Pro Bono Economics (PBE) have published an Economic Outlook Briefing for the charity sector. Read more

Published: 11th March, 2022

Updated: 15th March, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

A Shared Interest: The relationships between policymakers and charities

A Shared Interest: The relationships between policymakers and charities

This new PBE study for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society is the most comprehensive review of the social sector’s interactions with policymakers ever conducted. Read more

Published: 4th March, 2022

Updated: 18th March, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

Mind the Giving Gap: Unleashing the potential of UK philanthropy

Mind the Giving Gap: Unleashing the potential of UK philanthropy

The latest PBE study for the Law Family Commission on Civil Society looks at how falling participation in philanthropy, a decline in average giving by the wealthiest, and persistently unclaimed Gift Aid have combined to create a three-fold ‘giving gap’. Read more

Published: 15th December, 2021

Updated: 18th March, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

An unstable environment: The economic case for getting asylum decisions right first time

An unstable environment: The economic case for getting asylum decisions right first time

This study for the Refugee Survival Trust looks at the significant costs incurred by UK taxpayers and applicants themselves through incorrect Home Office asylum decisions. Read more

Published: 20th November, 2021

Author: Tia Manavis

Pandemic Scars and the Charity Sector

Pandemic Scars and the Charity Sector

New survey research into how the charity sector's success in supporting people during the pandemic has come at the cost of the workforce's health and wellbeing. Read more

Published: 15th November, 2021

Updated: 22nd April, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

Better data, bigger impact: a review of social sector data

Better data, bigger impact: a review of social sector data

Nearly half a million social sector organisations in the UK play a vital role in sustaining our society and economy, but a serious paucity of data is preventing the social sector from unleashing its full potential Read more

Published: 20th October, 2021

Updated: 21st October, 2021

Author: Tia Manavis

Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy

Paying the price: The cost of very poor adult literacy

Improving the UK's literacy can not only help individuals to progress into higher earning roles, but it can also insulate them from sector-specific downturns as seen during the pandemic. Read more

Published: 15th September, 2021

Updated: 28th January, 2022

Author: Tia Manavis

Purpose: On Parallel Tracks

Purpose: On Parallel Tracks

Great things can happen when civil society and the private sector team up, but the scale of engagement needs to be boosted. New research about the benefits that come when these sectors team up, and what's getting in the way. Read more

Published: 9th August, 2021

Updated: 5th October, 2021

Author: Tia Manavis

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Showing 10 of 67

Latest

  • PBE Reacts: ONS inflation statistics, March 2022

    PBE Reacts: ONS inflation statistics, March 2022

    PBE Research and Policy Director Jansev Jemal gives her reaction to this month's ONS consumer price inflation statistics.

  • Budget 2023: Charity sector spotlight

    Budget 2023: Charity sector spotlight

    What charities need to know about the implications of the Chancellor's 2023 Budget for their income, demand, services, and the economy overall.

  • PBE Reacts: Chancellor's Budget 2023

    PBE Reacts: Chancellor's Budget 2023

    PBE's CEO Matt Whittaker gives his reaction to the Chancellor's Budget announcement.

  • PBE Reacts: ONS labour market statistics, March 2023

    PBE Reacts: ONS labour market statistics, March 2023

    PBE's CEO Matt Whittaker gives his reaction to this month's ONS labour market statistics.

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  • Rising inflation: What do charities need to know?

    Rising inflation: What do charities need to know?

    Inflation is rising. Charity boards and leadership teams need to be planning for rising inflation to impact costs, pay deals, donation levels, and demand. Pro Bono Economics has pulled together the key issues to look out for.

  • What do we do?

    What do we do?

    Using economics to empower the social sector and increase wellbeing across the UK

  • How can PBE help your charity?

    How can PBE help your charity?

    We are always on the lookout for analysis and advocacy projects. If you have a project idea that you’d like us to consider, please get in touch!

  • Data First Aid

    Data First Aid

    Is your charity in need of some extra help with your data? Applications for support are now open!

  • A decade of change for children's services funding

    A decade of change for children's services funding

    PBE’s research raises concerns of a false economy in children’s services, where the need for Local Authorities to cut costs has fallen predominantly on early interventions spending such as children’s centres, family support services and services for young people.

  • Register to be a volunteer

    Register to be a volunteer

    Sign up to join our growing network of professional economist volunteers.

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Donate to PBE

Without our generous supporters, we would not be able to carry out our essential work with charities. Thank you for supporting us. Read more

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Published: 9th April, 2018

Updated: 26th October, 2020

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