Our free research

It is three years now since we published 'Polishing the Diamond' in the autumn of 2002, and it remains one of our most popular reports.For this reason we decided to pull together a series of branding case studies from across the sector.

Too few people have specifically addressed the voluntary sector's potential for innovation and the voluntary sector is often left feeling that the only time they can afford the luxury of innovation is when a funder specifically asks for it. It is our hope that this report will provide charities with a greater understanding about what innovation could do for them on a day-to-day basis. The report includes sections on issues such: innovation myths; innovation versus creativity; reducing the barriers to innovation and how innovation is linked to mission and vision.

This report is the conclusion of several years of work by nfpSynergy researching and understanding donors in a whole variety of guises. We hope that the report will enable charities of all sizes to think about the future and the fundraising strategies they will need to maximise income so as to meet the challenges ahead.

This report looks at strategic decision making when database marketing to supporters. Download it for a decision making tree, useful tips, and examples of what to do.

This updated report is a must-read for everyone who is interested in charity branding. It looks at how to create a strong, belief-based brand for voluntary sector organisations. The report examines the hierarchy of motivations that affect charity donors, and sets out the three steps to creating and delivering strong brand values for your organisation.

Case studies from our evaluation of the Code of Good Governance. You can also download the full report - Review and Development of the Code of Good Governance.

A representative sample of the UK population was asked to think about charities and the work that they do and pick up to five issues from a prompted list that they found 'off-putting, worrying or irritating'. The biggest single response was 'concerns about the amount that goes to the charity' - 68% and only 5% of respondents said nothing irritated or concerned them.

A briefing released in Sept 2009, using data from the Charity Parliamentary Monitor to examine whether party conferences are a good use of resources for charities and non-profits.

Not for profit think-tank nfpSynergy has teamed up with The ImpACT Coalition to produce a free, short, practical report and guide that will empower charities to formulate and communicate simple messages, including pithy pub facts, needed to dispel a range of debilitating misperceptions their stakeholders may have, both about themselves and the wider third sector.

This in-depth report, produced for the Vodafone Foundation, looks at how young adults seek help, and how charities can meet their needs. The report collates relevant knowledge and presents it in a practically focused way, with case studies and useful tips. We hope that the report will help local and national not-for-profit organisations in their support work with young adults, and improve the way organisations communicate with and provide services to this audience.