Biography

I am a Researcher in the Centre for the Study of Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice (CPHSJ), at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. I also teach a Masters level course on Fundraising and Philanthropy.

I have written a wide range of research reports on issues related to charitable giving and philanthropy, including:

• The annual ‘Million Pound Donor Report’
• ‘How Donors Choose Charities’
• ‘Giving in Evidence: Fundraising from Philantropy in European Universities’
• ‘Natural Philanthropists: Findings of the Family Business Philanthropy and Social Responsibility Inquiry’
• ‘The Blueprint for Giving’, the final report of the Giving Campaign co-written with Professor Adrian Sargeant; 
• ‘Robin Hood in Reverse: exploring the relationship between income and charitable giving’, published by the LSE 
• ‘Investment Matters’, a study of charity asset management
• ‘Raising a Giving Nation’.

Current projects include: the 2012 edition of the annual Million Pound Donor Report, funded by Coutts Bank; a study of how private sector staff help to select charity partners; and an analysis of the socio-demographic profiles of donors and recipients.  

Career
I began my career as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity, the Cardinal Hume Centre and spent a decade working in a variety of fundraising, research and charity management roles, most recently as Deputy Director at the Institute for Philanthropy. I co-founded the Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice in 2008.

Education
I completed my PhD in Sociology at the University of Kent, my MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation at the London School of Economics, my Certificate in Fundraising Management at the Open University and my MA in Social Anthropology at the University of St. Andrews.
 
Find me:
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On Academia 
On Linkedin 
Read my blog
Visit my website

Teaching

Current
I convene SO839 Fundraising and Philanthropy. This MA module provides an up to date overview of current academic knowledge about philanthropy, and industry knowledge regarding fundraising practice.

Students will gain an understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to philanthropy and fundraising, the various theories and ideologies regarding the existence of philanthropic behaviours and the role of government and policy-makers in shaping the legal, fiscal and cultural context for philanthropy and fundraising.

Students also have the opportunity to achieve a professional qualification in fundraising.

Research

Research interests
My research interests focus on philanthropy, charitable giving, and the charity sector.

I work within the Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice, which explores philanthropic activities, social patterns of giving and the redistributive impact of transfers from private wealth to the public good. I also have an interest in the impact of philanthropy on social policy and political processes, and vice versa.

Current
I have received funding from the European Commission to undertake a study of the role of philanthropic fundraising in universities across the European Union, and I have funding from Coutts & Co bank to write an annual report on UK charitable donations worth £1 million or more.

I am also a researcher within the national Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy (CGAP), which is funded by the ESRC, the Office of Civil Society, the Scottish Executive and the Carnegie UK Trust.

The four projects I am undertaking within CGAP are concerned with donors’ awareness of the nature and distribution of charitable benefit; the role that perceptions of need plays in donors’ selection of beneficiaries; relationships between givers and receivers and the social space bridged by donations; and the representation of need in charitable appeals and its impact on beneficiaries.

Past
My doctoral thesis, completed in 2009, investigates the meaning and purpose of philanthropy in contemporary UK society. Based on secondary analysis of the public statements and giving patterns of 170 of the most significant philanthropists operating in the UK today, it argues that philanthropy is primarily a social relationship between givers and receivers, rather than merely a financial transaction, and that the philanthropic acts of the wealthy are part of a strategy - conscious or otherwise - to find meaning and purpose in their life whilst creating and communicating a positive identity to themselves, their loved ones and the wider community.

Publications

Publications

Please visit the Centre for the Study of Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice's publications section.

• B. Breeze & J. Dean (forthcoming) ‘Pictures of Me: User views of their representation in homelessness fundraising appeals’. In International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing (14pp).
• P. Wiepking & B. Breeze (2012) ‘Feeling Poor, Acting Stingy: the effect of money perception on charitable giving. InInternational Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing 17 (1), p.13-24.
• B. Breeze, B. Gouwenberg, T. Schuyt & I. Wilkinson (2011) ‘What role for public policy in promoting philanthropy: The case of EU universities’. In Public Management Review, p.1179-1195.

• B. Breeze (2011) ‘Is there a ‘New Philanthropy?’’ in C. Rochester, G. C. Gosling,
  A. Penn & M. Zimmeck (eds) Understanding the Roots of Voluntary Action: Historical perspectives on current social policy. Sussex Academic Press: Brighton.
• B. Breeze (2008) ‘The Problem of Riches: Is philanthropy a solution or part of the problem?’ In Social Policy Review 20. Sage: London.
• B. Breeze (2011) ‘Philanthropy’ in D. Southerton (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Consumer Culture. Routledge: London.
• B. Breeze (2010) ‘Andrew Carnegie’ and ‘Marcel Mauss’ in H. Anheier & S. Toepler (eds.) International Encyclopaedia of Civil Society. Springer: New York.
• B. Breeze (2011) The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2011. Coutts: London.
• B. Breeze, B. Gouwenbyrg. T. Schuyt & I. Wilkinson (2011) Giving in Evidence: Fundraising from Philanthropy in European Universities. European Commission: Brussels.
• B. Breeze (2010) The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2010. Coutts: London.
• B. Breeze (2009) Natural Philanthropists: Findings of the Family Business Philanthropy and Social Responsibility Inquiry. Institute for Family Business: London.
• B. Breeze (2009) The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2009. Coutts: London.
• B. Breeze (2008) Investment Matters: In search of better charity asset management. Institute for Philanthropy: London.
• B. Breeze (2008) The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2008. University of Kent/Coutts: London.
• B. Breeze & A. Thornton (2006) Raising a Giving Nation. Citizenship Foundation: London.
• B. Breeze (2006) Philanthropy’s Greatest Achievements. Institute for Philanthropy: London.
• B. Breeze (2005) Charities don’t want Charity. A pamphlet aimed at influencing politicians in the general election, with forewords from the Charity minister and the shadow ministers. ACEVO: London.
• B. Breeze & A. Sargeant (2004) A Blueprint for Giving. The Giving Campaign: London.

Activity

Professional activities

• Co-founder of the Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice at the University of Kent.
• Member of the Philanthropy UK Editorial Board.
• Publications Editor, Philanhtropy UK.

Editorial

• I write regularly for national and charity sector media, in order to disseminate research findings as widely as possible to relevant audiences
• In addition to the charity sector press, my research has featured on:
  • Radio 4 (including the Today programme, The World at One, You and Yours)
  • Channel 4 News
  • Regional BBC radio (Kent, Devon, Leeds, London and Scotland)
  • The Financial Times
  • Daily Telegraph
  • The Guardian
  • BBC Online
  • Guardian Online
  • New Statesman
  • Prospect magazine

Links

Websites of interest in this field:

• Charity Commission
• Philanthrocapitalism
• Tactical Philanthropy
• The Chronicle of Philanthrop
• Civil Society
• UK Fundraising
• Fundraising Detective
• Charity Facts

 

YouTube

• Interview with Beth Breeze, Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent
• Interview: Beth Breeze at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Civil Society and Volunteering