A report is calling for mayoral strategic authorities to improve their partnership working with local charities to ensure this tier of regional government can more effectively “mobilise philanthropy”.

The report, called Partnering for Place, has been published by AchieveGood and Impact Economy Collective and examines how mayors can better build networks locally to help unlock £100bn in philanthropic capital and to help communities.

Better partnership with their local charity sector is among ways this can be achieved, with mayoral strategic authorities urged against “framing philanthropy purely as grants for charities”.

Instead, mayoral authorities are urged to work with charities “as a partner in innovation and system change”.

To further boost philanthropy mayors are also recommended to work better with their local Community Foundations and use their expertise of working with local charities, philanthropists and businesses.

Trusted intermediaries

These ‘trusted intermediaries’ bring “granular knowledge of the local social sector”, as well as “established relationships with donors and funders”.

Without Community Foundation involvement mayors “risk starting from scratch or defaulting to a small number of familiar charities known to individual decision makers”, the report warns.

Northeast Mayoral Strategic Authority’s work with the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wyre and Northumberland is among examples given of effective partnership working in the report.

It details that the authority has begun developing its own philanthropy strategy “including a jointly convened philanthropy roundtable” with the Community Foundation.

“These conversations are at an early stage but signal a growing recognition of philanthropy’s role in regional strategy,” states the report.

Another example given is in South Yorkshire, where the region’s mayoral combined authority uses its local Community Foundation “as a clear delivery partner”.

Steve Rigby, chair of the Rigby Foundation, which funded the report, said: “Now is the time for Mayors, philanthropists, investors and communities to work together to deliver lasting change through place-based commitments.”

There are currently around a dozen mayoral authorities, including in the West of England, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.

As part of its devolution agenda the government is looking to roll out this tier of government, which oversees issues including regional development and transport, nationwide.

West of England mayor Helen Godwin has welcomed the Partnering for Place report adding that “in this new era of devolution, mayors can connect national ambition, local knowledge, and private capital, helping deliver lasting change for the people we serve”.

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