Before you start
Who publishes data and how?
Grantmakers who publish data using the 360Giving Data Standard range in size from large organisations with many staff to small trusts run by their boards. They include family, corporate and community foundations, central and devolved government, local councils, lottery distributors, housing associations, livery companies and charities that make grants in the course of their work. These grantmakers fund a wide variety of recipients, including organisations like registered charities, community interest companies, museums and more, as well as smaller groups and grants awarded to individuals and families.
A data standard is a technical specification, but it essentially means that data is recorded using the same headings and formatting. Standardised formatting allows data to be collated and analysed across different funders and recipients.
Most funders publish data in spreadsheets, and a few use a technical format known as JSON. Funders are the owners of the data and publish it on their own websites. They share their data under an open license, which lets people know they have permission to use it. 360Giving tools, like GrantNav – our search engine for grants data – use and collate this data, presenting it in a searchable form.
Publishing open grants data using the 360Giving Data Standard is voluntary, so not all funders publish their data. A list of 360Giving Publishers can be found on GrantNav.
360Giving collects the published data and, where possible, enhances it with useful information from other open sources, such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales or Companies House. The data, including any enhancements, is updated daily and made available for anyone to use via our 360Giving tools such as GrantNav