Why publish?

Publishing grants data using the 360Giving Data Standard brings lots of benefits, both for grantmakers and communities. Here are the main reasons for funders to publish:

• Understanding yourself better – The publishing process encourages you to consider what information you collect, how you present it, and what is missing. Once published the grants data can be explored and seen in new ways in our tools GrantNav and 360Insights. For grants awarded to individuals and families the data is also visualised in our Grants to Individuals Dashboard.
• It saves time and money for the sector – When financial flows are opaque, collaboration between funders is harder and grant applicants face significant information barriers. Open grants data gives us a fuller picture of funding across the UK, so funding can be more informed and effective. It also helps charities to identify potential partners and collaborators.
• Enabling new and innovative research – Your data will contribute to research that supports the funding sector, such as UKGrantmaking, the definitive annual publication on grant funding in the UK, or our other analysis and reports – including on Specialist Legal Advice Providers and Sector Infrastructure Funding.
• Better outcomes for recipients – By saving resources and enabling better, more targeted funding decisions, 360Giving data helps funders focus on what’s most important: meeting the needs of the people, organisations and causes that they support. Funders can also compare and analyse your own grants data alongside hundreds of other funders.
• Demonstrating values – Publishing your data sends a message that you are transparent and part of the open grants movement. It means you are doing your bit to help make grantmaking in the UK more informed, effective and strategic.

What does it mean to publish grants data? 

• It is free to publish 360Giving data and each funder does this by sharing files of grants data on their own website in a standard file format. This means that they have complete control over their data, including what and when they publish. 
• To assist funders in their publishing journey, we have written a Complete Guide which explains the three key stages of the process – planning your approach, preparing data, and publishing the information openly. 
• If you have any questions, or need more support, our friendly Helpdesk team can answer any queries you may have.