Spring aims to realise the potential of technology to enable people to make smarter choices in giving their time and money.

Providing a much-needed focal point for research, development and thought leadership in this area, we are learning from the approaches already out there and exploring the opportunities for innovation.

Keen to pursue a collaborative approach, we have included interviews with a range of key technology enabled giving experts as an important component of our first research report More Than Shaking An Online Tin: How can we take technology-enabled giving to a new level?

In addition to research, we also host dynamic and collaborative events, such as PlayNice, which explored the potential of giving through gaming in partnership with Playmob, and an evening with NCVO which included a live survey of the audience’s uses of and attitudes towards technology-enabled giving.

And we have a plethora of exciting ideas in the pipeline for further research, innovation and events. Watch this space for more developments!

People often mistake the fundraising potential of the web with the sea-change it is bringing to peoplesʼ expectations of relationships and communication. In particular, social technologies are disruptive and the essence of disruption is challenging the status quo.

Web-based and mobile technologies have already begun to offer a taste of their potentially transformative impact on giving and donor behaviour.

We believe that change is inevitable; the next two decades will see an opening up of philanthropy – enabled by networks, informed by data, and motivated by the values of sharing and open participation.

It is clear that donors are increasingly migrating online and mobile phones and the web have proven successful in allowing donors to respond rapidly to calls for giving. The next generation of young people is driving the future of charitable donations through this increasing emphasis on technology.

New online tools are offering people the ability to mobilise their social networks around peer-to-peer portfolio lending and other forms of contribution. A key element of our research programme will be to find alternatives that tap the power of networks such as ʻcrowd-fundingʼ, which not only bring in money, but it also power community.

So far technology has probably not increased overall levels of giving, although we believe there is huge potential for it to do so. 

Charities are eager for insight into how this will have implications for their future.