Each year on the 5th September, The Charity Service celebrates the United Nations International Day of Charity. As an organisation established to help donors make the most of their charitable giving, we recognise the huge contribution of charities in the UK and around the world.
Charities play a vital role in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering. They supplement public services in a range of areas, including in healthcare, education, housing and child protection. Charities assist in the advancement of science, culture, animal welfare, sports, and the protection of cultural heritage and the natural environment. They also promote the rights of the marginalised and contribute to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. Without charities, our world would be an immeasurably poorer place.
We also recognise the important role played by the United Nations in establishing sustainable development goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives of everyone, everywhere. These goals are particularly valuable because they were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 and represent an international consensus on the world’s sustainable development priorities.
When advising philanthropists, we often use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to help think about philanthropic goals and charitable causes they wish to pursue. We find that donors who establish clear philanthropic goals and a well-thought out strategy are much better placed to choose the charities they wish to support. By adopting a process that aligns objectives, strategy and supported charities, donors are far more likely to achieve their philanthropic goals.
Our donors support charities in the UK and around the world. Whilst the Sustainable Development Goals framework is usually associated with international context, we also find it helpful in the UK context. The goals are relevant to both the developing and developed worlds.
If you would like to support the work of charities in the UK and/or internationally, but lack the knowledge or confidence to develop a philanthropic strategy, we can help you. The Charity Service offers specialist advice to donors who have £250,000 or more to give to charities.
Click here to find out more about our philanthropy advice service.
