The Gradel Institute of Charity

What The Gradel Institute of Charity does

The Gradel Institute of Charity (GIC) is a nonprofit research and education institute established in September 2023 and hosted within New College at the University of Oxford. Its mission is to advance understanding of how charities address public needs and to amplify the effectiveness of nonprofit organisations. The institute delivers this mission through five interlocking product lines: (1) the Leading Social Impact Programme, delivered in partnership with Clore Social Leadership for senior third-sector leaders; (2) the Penn Oxford Social Impact Programme (POSIL/Global Impact Houses), a six-day residential bringing together global social entrepreneurs; (3) a free online Social Innovation Strategy course on Coursera; (4) the GIC Ethics Lab, focused on nonprofit ethics as a distinct field; and (5) a research and doctoral fellows programme supported by 11 visiting researchers affiliated with UK, European, and US universities.

The institute operates a community-led go-to-market model that combines residential executive education, online self-serve learning, commissioned research publications, and convening of sector stakeholders through symposia, roundtables, and Charity Advisory Board meetings. Distribution is multi-channel: residential programmes at Oxford and Yorkshire for enterprise/mid-market buyers; Coursera for global individual learners; and regional engagement visits (Cornwall, Leeds, Stirling, Basel) targeting regional foundation and funder ecosystems. Its research outputs — including the 'A Third Way of Doing Growth' report co-published with Pro Bono Economics, which estimated the UK third sector's potential £200 billion economic contribution and was praised by Chancellor Rachel Reeves — are a primary top-of-funnel channel, with coverage in the Financial Times, The Telegraph, and Civil Society Media.

Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed. The institute does not publish programme fees; the only explicitly free offering is the Coursera course. As a New College-hosted nonprofit, the operating base appears to be funded through a mix of charitable foundation grants, partnership contributions (e.g., Pro Bono Economics), and likely fees from executive residential programmes. There is no evidence of external private equity or venture capital backing. The institute has no app, no API, and no proprietary software product; its intellectual property consists of research papers, executive programmes, and brand/reputation associated with the Oxford affiliation.

Name

The Gradel Institute of Charity

Legal name

The Gradel Institute of Charity

Website

https://gradelinstituteofcharity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gradel Institute of Charity is a nonprofit research and education institute hosted at New College, University of Oxford. It conducts research and delivers executive programmes, residential labs, and a free Coursera course for UK and global charity and third-sector leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Research and Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAN

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Nonprofit research
• Charity sector education
• Third sector research
• Executive education programmes
• Social impact research

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research and Education Services: The institute generates value through research commissions, executive education programmes, and publications that serve the charity and third sector. It operates as a nonprofit within New College, University of Oxford.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Gradel Institute of Charity is a nonprofit research and educational institute within New College, University of Oxford that produces top-quality research on nonprofit and voluntary action and delivers executive and practitioner education programmes (including residential and online courses) designed to build the strategic management, governance, leadership and impact measurement capabilities of charities and third sector organisations.

Product overview

The Gradel Institute of Charity offers a portfolio of educational programmes and research initiatives focused on the charity and third sector. Core offerings include the Leading Social Impact Programme (in partnership with Clore Social Leadership), the Penn Oxford Social Impact Programme (Global Social Impact Houses), and the Online Social Innovation Course on Coursera. Research activities are supported through the Nonprofit Ethics Lab and doctoral fellows programme. The Institute functions as an academic institute rather than a traditional product company, delivering programmes through residential sessions, online learning, and published research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leading Social Impact Programme: A programme delivered in partnership with Clore Social Leadership designed to equip third sector leaders with knowledge, tools, and networks to drive positive social change.
• Penn Oxford Social Impact Programme (POSIL)
• GIC Ethics Lab (Nonprofit Ethics Lab)

Products and services

• Leading Social Impact Programme A partnership programme with Clore Social Leadership that equips third sector leaders with knowledge, tools, and networks to drive positive social change, combining Oxford residential sessions with online learning components.
• Online Social Innovation Course A free online course on Coursera that provides 20 actionable tools for defining, designing, testing, and scaling solutions to pressing social challenges, open to aspiring and established changemakers globally.
• Penn Oxford Social Impact Programme (Global Impact Houses) A six-day residential programme at Spicer Manor, Yorkshire, that equips global social entrepreneurs and changemakers with tools, training and support through workshops on business models, design thinking, and leadership to strengthen their impact ventures.
• Nonprofit Ethics Lab (GIC Ethics Lab) An initiative that develops nonprofit ethics as a distinct field through systematic literature reviews, executive programmes, and convening activities across secular and faith-based nonprofits globally.
• Research and Doctoral Fellows Programmes Research initiatives including visiting researchers programmes, doctoral fellows, and academic symposia exploring third sector economics, volunteering trends, and nonprofit management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% decline in volunteering since 2019 identified through commissioned research
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Clore Social LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Delivers the 'Leading Social Impact' programme in partnership, combining Clore's social leadership expertise with GIC's research capabilities. Programme began September 2025 with over 40 delegates from across the globe.
• Pro Bono EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Co-published 'A Third Way of Doing Growth' report on the third sector's economic contribution. Matt Whittaker, CEO of Pro Bono Economics, presented research at the inaugural symposium.
• New College, University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute is based at New College, Oxford. The college provides physical infrastructure and academic affiliation, with connections to the university's academic resources.
• Cornwall Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIC visited Cornwall engaging with the foundation which supports 700+ local charities annually. Esmé Page from Cornwall Hugs facilitated the visit, inspired by her participation in the Leading Social Impact programme.
• Cornwall Voluntary Sector ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CVSF for the Cornwall visit. Sir Stephen Bubb addressed over 50 charity leaders at the CVSF Sector Alliance event.
• Oxfordshire Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIC hosted OCF's Funders' Forum for the second year running, bringing together local grant makers, fundraisers, business leaders and charity professionals.
• Mishcon de ReyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChris Willis Pickup, Head of Charities and Social Ventures at Mishcon de Reya, participated in panel discussion at the Funders' Forum hosted by GIC.
• University of BaselminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Frumkin delivered a keynote speech on strategic giving at the Centre for Philanthropy Studies' annual Workshop of Global Philanthropy.
• Scottish GrantmakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth Sir Stephen and Professor Frumkin presented at the Annual Conference for Scottish Grantmakers in Stirling.
• Quilter CheviotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Frumkin was guest speaker at a London charity seminar hosted by Quilter Cheviot, discussing lessons the UK can learn from the US charity sector.
• Leeds Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted lunch and roundtable in Leeds for the Leeds Community Foundation and Yorkshire Impact Hub.
• Nonprofit Ethics Lab CollaboratorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ethics Lab acts as collaborator and convener across secular and faith-based nonprofits globally to strengthen a community of practice around nonprofit ethics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): The UK umbrella body for voluntary and community organisations, providing research, policy, and infrastructure to the charity sector. Wider remit than GIC but operates in the same convening/research space the institute is targeting.
• ACEVO: The UK membership network for charity and social-sector chief executives. Overlaps with GIC's audience and leadership-development mission but operates as an established membership body rather than an academic institute.
• Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy: A US academic school dedicated to philanthropy and nonprofit studies, producing research and training sector leaders. Closely analogous academic peer to GIC, although with greater scale and longer history.
• Hauser Institute for Civil Society, Harvard Kennedy School: A Harvard research centre studying civil society, nonprofit organisations, and philanthropy globally. A long-established academic peer with a similar research-and-education remit to GIC, but at much greater scale.
• Stanford PACS (Program on Philanthropy and Civil Society): Stanford's interdisciplinary research centre studying philanthropy, civil society, and nonprofit effectiveness. A globally established peer to GIC's research and convening role, with a much larger scale and longer track record.

Direct peers

• Pro Bono Economics: A UK charity producing economic research and analysis on the social sector, including the co-published "A Third Way of Doing Growth" report with GIC. Comparable mission of generating evidence and analysis to support UK charities.
• Clore Social Leadership: A UK leadership development organisation for the social sector, co-delivering the Leading Social Impact Programme with GIC. Comparable mission of developing third-sector leaders and overlapping programme content.
• Cranfield Trust: A UK charity providing pro bono management consultancy, leadership programmes, and resources to other charities. Directly comparable to GIC's focus on strengthening charity governance, leadership, and operational effectiveness.
• Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School: A UK-based centre delivering executive education, consultancy, and research for charity and nonprofit leaders. Closely comparable to GIC in target audience (charity executives), offering mix (executive programmes, research, advisory), and mission of building third-sector effectiveness.
• Centre for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel: A university-based centre researching philanthropy and nonprofit activity in Europe. GIC's Academic Director Frumkin delivers keynotes there. Highly comparable as an academic research and convening centre for philanthropy/third sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-gradel-institute-of-charity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Gradel Institute of Charity