The bidding process has been completed, and a successful bid has been accepted, for the establishment of a new Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, according to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The Centre is set to receive £2.2 million in funding over the next five years, provided jointly by the ESRC, Office of the Third Sector, Scottish government and the Carnegie UK Trust.

Its aim is to support high quality independent research focused on influencing policy and practice decisions, while better understanding charitable giving and philanthropic issues. It will also seek to increase understanding of why and how individuals and businesses can give.

The Centre is not a physical entity, but rather a ‘hub’ and ‘spokes’ arrangement, with the spokes looking at: individual and business giving; charitable giving and social redistribution; and institutionalised giving structures. These have involvement from the NCVO, Cass Business school, Edinburgh University, Kent University, Strathclyde University and Southampton University among others.

The Centre’s director, Professor Jenny Harrow from Cass Business School, said: “We aim to be a centre of excellence for independent, high quality, innovative, strategic research, enhancing the evidence base to inform charitable giving and philanthropy development, as well as a hub for engaging national and international stakeholders, for capacity development and knowledge exchange.”