Publisher Guidance

Plan

We’re really happy that you’ve chosen to publish your data using the 360Giving Data Standard, and we hope you’re excited too. When funders like you share your data openly, everyone benefits – your own organisation, the sector as a whole and the individuals and communities we serve.

It’s also a great way to learn more about who and what you fund, and to show your commitment to transparent and strategic grantmaking. Did you know that publishing 360Giving data is a key indicator of a grantmaker’s transparency used by Foundation Practice Rating? And that it allows public sector funders to comply with their Transparency Code obligations?

We’ve supported lots of funders through the publishing process. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that taking time to plan makes everything easier later on.

Step 1. Understand why you want to publish your data

Being clear about your aims will help you make important decisions later.

Step 2. See what’s involved in publishing your data

Understand all the steps in the 360Giving data publishing process.

Step 3. Work out who will be involved

You’ll probably need to work with other people in your organisation to publish your data – who are they?

Step 4. Write a plan

It’s tempting just to get stuck in, but writing a short plan will make things easier later on.

Step 5. Record your process and chart your progress

Make a note of what you do as you go along so that you can refer back to it when it’s time to re-publish.

Step 6. Register to become a publisher

Answer a few questions about your organisation and access our Helpdesk support.

Step 7. Remember a few key concepts

Some key ideas and important things to remember.

Planning checklist

Have you:

Got a good idea of what’s involved, and the key decisions you’ll need to make?
Learned about some important concepts like ‘open data’ and ‘data quality’?
Found out where your grants data is stored and how to access it?
Worked out what resources you will need for the project, and who will need to be involved?
Written a plan, and decided how you will record your progress?
Started thinking about how you will protect people’s privacy when you publish?
Thought about where you will host your data file online?
Registered as a publisher with 360Giving?

Further resources

Get support

We’ll be with you all the way. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, email our Helpdesk at support@threesixtygiving.org or check out other ways to get in touch.