The Gradel Institute of Charity
Background to the Gradel Institute of Charity
The Warden of New College, Miles Young
The Gradel Institute of Charity originated as a collaboration between New College, University of Oxford, and Charity Futures a third sector think-tank established in 2016 to act as a forum for research around the impact of charity. Charity Futures was originally co-founded by Sir Stephen Bubb and Jonathan Smith. Sir Stephen had spent 16 years as the leader of the country’s charity CEOs and established a national reputation for promoting the charity voice.
His experience led him to believe charity leadership and governance needed action to improve effectiveness. Working with Jonathan, who now leads Skylark, they worked with partners to develop the idea of an the Institute to introduce, offer, and foster the study of non-profits around the world, including rigorous and practical research that will serve as a pro-active intervention to improve the efficiency of the sector. This led to the alliance with New College and to the Gradel Institute of Charity, the first such research centre in the world to concentrate on charities as organisations, not philanthropy.
“The Gradel Quadrangles are the fifth great building phase in New College following on from William of Wykeham’s historic master plan; then the Garden Quad in the late 17th Century; the Holywell Quad in the late 19th Century; and finally the Sacher and Weston Buildings in the late 20th Century.”
Miles Young - Warden, New College, University of Oxford
The new tower
The new tower that houses the Gradel Institute of Charity at New College, University of Oxford stands at 71-feet high and comprises six floors on the corner of Mansfield and Savile Road in Oxford. The adjacent Tower House incorporates a lobby and a multi-use hall for lectures and seminars, as well as accommodation for students and guests, a kitchen, bathrooms, and underground storage.
The design is by award-winning David Kohn Architects and is a striking new addition to the skyline of Oxford – often called the city of dreaming spires – though our Institute, while it dreams of a better world through charity action, will be firmly grounded in practical research to be used by, and guide, charities.
The Gradel Quadrangles is also home to student accommodation for around 200 undergraduates. The Quadrangles and the Institute have been made possible by a generous charitable gift by Chris Gradel, an alumnus of New College and the CEO and Co-founder of PAG Capital.
“As the world’s first-ever Institute dedicated to charity, the Gradel Institute of Charity is pioneering for a sector that plays such a key role in society.”
Dr Leonard Stall - Chairman Charity Futures and member Governing Committee, Gradel Institute of Charity