The mission
Charity Bank was always going to be different. What drives us isn’t profits, but a shared idea about the world we want to live in. We were founded to support charities with loans that they couldn’t find elsewhere and to show people how their savings could be invested ethically and in ways that would make them happy.
Today, charities have never been more needed, but also more challenged. That’s why our promise – of supporting charitable activities and helping people to save and do good – is more important than ever.
We take the time to understand the organisations we lend to, we put peoples' money where their values are and together we work to create lasting social change in our communities.
We are an ethical bank for everyone who knows that banks can do better. We are the bank for people who believe that banking should always work for good.
Find out more in our 2020 Impact Report.
Where you fit into ethical banking
Savers
You’re looking for an ethical bank that will help you to put your money where your values are. You believe that banks can do better and you want your money to be a powerful force for good. You open an individual or business savings account with Charity Bank.
Borrowers
You’re a charity or social enterprise and you want to borrow from an ethical bank wholeheartedly committed to what you do. You’d like to work with a regional manager that you can rely on as a partner in doing good. You apply for a Charity Bank loan.
Staff
You’re passionate about using finance to support charities and social enterprises. You believe that banks have a vital role to play in creating a world we all want to live in; you want to live your values at work. You apply for a job with Charity Bank. View vacancies.
Shareholders
You’re a trust, charity or foundation looking to invest in a business that puts people and planet before profit. You’d like to see a modest return but a central purpose of your investment is to see your money do social good. You invest in Charity Bank.
The result – banking for good
You join a community of like-minded individuals all working towards one goal. Our charitable borrowers, ethical savers, social investors and dedicated staff are helping to make sure that charities and social enterprises can always be there for the people and communities that need them. Banking for good provides the tools for people not just dreaming of a better world, but busy building one.
Our Values Recognised
Meet our lending team
You’ll get to know our regional managers by name. They take the time to meet you and tailor our loans to suit your financial need and social aims.
Carolyn Sims
Director of Lending
Carolyn Sims
Director of Lending
South Lending Team
Carolyn began her banking career with National Westminster Bank before moving on to MLA Bank Limited where she had responsibility for property investment and development lending.
After Dexia Public Finance acquired MLA Bank in the early 1990’s, Carolyn went on to become responsible for the bank’s social housing activities. She arranged finance for the first housing PFI scheme and also worked on project finance and limited recourse financing deals.
Carolyn is a trustee of a number of charities.
Chris Tweedie
Small Loans Programme Manager
Chris Tweedie
Small Loans Programme Manager
Smaller Loans Programme Team
Chris has been in banking for 30 years.
Before moving to Charity Bank, she managed a customer portfolio of small and medium sized businesses, providing support, guidance and a range of funding options. In addition, she specialises in finance for social and affordable housing providers.
In her spare time, Chris enjoys travelling and walking in our beautiful countryside.
Sharon Gooch
Deal Manager
Sharon Gooch
Deal Manager
Sharon joined Charity Bank in June 2015 after taking a short career break to spend time with her children.
Prior to joining Charity Bank, she worked for Barclays. She has spent the last 15 years working in corporate finance risk, specialising in structured project finance and managing real estate, PFI/PPP and renewable energy assets.
Sharon’s role at Charity Bank is to assist borrowers to draw down their loan, following its approval, as seamlessly as possible.
Sharon says: “It is fantastic to have found an opportunity at Charity Bank to draw on my experience in finance to help others make a difference in our communities.”
Stacey Goodrich
Loans Administration Assistant
Stacey Goodrich
Loans Administration Assistant
Stacey joined Charity Bank in April 2017 after working for 18 years in high volume administrative and customer-focused roles within different industries including travel, hospitality and care.
Stacey is responsible for assisting Charity Bank’s Loan Officers with administrative duties in the Loans department. She says: “I’m passionate about working with a team of people for a bank that does good for charities and social enterprises.”
Debbie Harmsworth
Loans Administration Manager
Debbie Harmsworth
Loans Administration Manager
Debbie joined Charity Bank after 23 years with a high street bank.
A relocation to Kent prompted her decision to move outside of mainstream banking and she has not looked back on that decision, enjoying the satisfaction which comes from knowing the work she is doing is helping other people.
In her spare time Debbie enjoys sailing and skiing.
Mark Herbert
Lending Manager
Mark Herbert
Lending Manager
Smaller Loans Programme Team
Mark started his banking career spending 15 years with NatWest Bank, before moving on to Unity Trust Bank. During his eight years at Unity Trust he worked with the charity and social economy sectors providing banking and advice services.
A five-year spell at the Co-operative Bank then followed where Mark worked with several of the UK’s largest charities in its Charity and Social Enterprise team. Mark played a key role in establishing a loan fund for Responsible Finance Providers in conjunction with Unity Trust and the Regional Growth Fund.
Away from work Mark is a qualified youth football coach.
Mark says, “Having joined Charity Bank in early 2017, I’m looking forward to continuing to work with and supporting charities and social enterprises.”
Jeremy Ince
Regional Manager, North
Jeremy Ince
Regional Manager, North
North Lending Team
Jeremy joined the Charity Bank team in 2008 as Lending Manager, bringing with him over 20 years of business experience after a successful career across a range of senior management roles with one of the major high street banks.
He is passionate about the community and voluntary sector and uses his skills to assist organisations help evaluate the benefits of social finance as part of their funding mix.
In addition to his work with Charity Bank, Jeremy is trustee of a major youth charity in Yorkshire. As such he is acutely aware of the funding challenges and opportunities organisations face in the delivery of their mission.
Sue Potter
Loans Administrator
Sue Potter
Loans Administrator
Sue is responsible for guiding and assisting Charity Bank’s borrowers through the loan process from sanction of the loan to drawdown, ensuring the process is as smooth as possible.
Sue has over 29 years’ previous experience in the banking industry building her varied career with NatWest. Sue’s expertise lies with lending; “I feel joining Charity Bank has been very rewarding, enabling my wealth of knowledge to be put to use in an ethical banking environment.”
Adam Ruffinato
National Lending Manager
Adam Ruffinato
National Lending Manager
North Lending Team
Adam is our Senior Lending Manager covering the whole of the UK, with a particular interest in helping our customers with more complex or specialist borrowing needs.
Prior to joining Charity Bank in 2015, Adam worked at Unity Trust Bank for 7 years specialising in banking provision and lending to charities and social enterprises. His most recent role was Head of Social Economy.
In his spare time he enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Bernie Teggart
Lending Manager
Bernie Teggart
Lending Manager
South Lending Team
Bernie joined the Charity Bank team as a Lending Manager in December 2017, having spent ten years at the forefront of Business and Corporate Banking in Ulster Bank Limited (Part of the RBS group).
During her career at Ulster Bank she managed a large portfolio of high net worth corporate and property customers both as a Manager in the Business Banking NI team before moving across to the Capital Resolution/Global Restructuring team.
Bernie has significant experience in corporate and property lending, restructuring and capital resolution.
Lee Jagger
Regional Manager
Lee Jagger
Regional Manager
North Lending Team
Lee brings over 25 years’ experience within the financial services industry having worked for two large global commercial banks prior to spending seven years working in the social economy with Unity Trust Bank.
Lee has worked in retail and private banking, but most of his time has been in relationship management roles in SME, commercial and social economy sectors. At Unity Trust Bank, Lee was the National Lending Manager for Responsible Finance. He provided wholesale and direct funding lines to Responsible Finance Providers that used these funds to give access to finance to enterprises and individuals that couldn’t access finance from high street banks. Latterly Lee held the role of Social Impact and CSR Manager.
Lee is the former President of a Chamber of Trade Commerce (2011-16) and is passionate about helping to create a strong, sustainable and inclusive society.
Away from work he likes hiking and taking part in the WOLF Run (10k run with swims and obstacles), in 2018 he completed four runs to gain Alpha WOLF status. He is also a volunteer at a local children’s hospice. Not to forget he is an avid Leeds United fan!
Meet our savings team
95% of our savers would recommend us to a friend. Meet the people that are there to help you open an account and answer your questions.
Source: Charity Bank 2015 borrower survey.
Justin Hort
Head of Savings
Justin Hort
Head of Savings
Justin spent sixteen years of his banking career with National Westminster Bank where he led teams with the responsibility for meeting the savings needs of businesses and charities. While at National Westminster Bank he arranged sponsorship for Lashings All-Stars to support its fundraising in support of local cricket clubs, schools and charities through legends cricket matches.
Justin joined Charity Bank in December 2014 where he has developed suites of deposit accounts for private individuals, businesses and charities that can be applied for online. These accounts allow the banks savers to earn a fair return and support the extraordinary work of charities and social enterprises across the UK.
Justin Halls
Savings Manager
Justin Halls
Savings Manager
Justin joined Charity Bank in December 2018 as a Savings Manager, having worked in the various operational roles in the Banking and Finance Industry for the last 20 years.
Justin is excited about joining Charity Bank and its mission that is not driven by profits but a shared idea of the world we want to live in."
Claire Springett
Savings Officer
Claire Springett
Savings Officer
Claire joined Charity Bank in 2013 following nine years in a small family run financial services firm. In this time she gained the key skills for a role in the Savings Team.
An ambition to further her career in alternative financial services brought her to Charity Bank. Claire is passionate about supporting people who save with the bank and keeping their best interests at heart.
Philippa Calver
Savings Officer
Philippa Calver
Savings Officer
Since 1979 Philippa has been employed in financial and customer services roles, ranging from city banks to international banking in HK.
return to the UK in 1993 Philippa began a career in the charitable sector when she joined CAF working for CafCash which later became CAF Bank. After 13 years service Philippa joined Charity Bank in the role of Deposits Administrator in 2005.
Coming to work is a pleasure, says Philippa as I have the best of all worlds; enjoying the personal contact with clients, working with figures and knowing that Charity Bank is making a difference.
Andrea Collard
Savings Administrator
Andrea Collard
Savings Administrator
Andrea joined Charity Bank in March 2017 as Saving Administrator after working for a major high street bank. She has 30 years’ experience in various customer service and real estate finance support roles.
Andrea says, “joining the Charity Bank family has been a breath of fresh air, with everyone focused on doing the right thing for the customer and the local communities they serve.”
Nick Murray
Savings Administrator
Nick Murray
Savings Administrator
Nick joined the Charity Bank team as a Savings Administrator in March 2018, having worked in the Banking and Finance industry for over 30 years. He has spent the last 16 years working for The Royal Bank of Scotland Group in various customer service roles, including working with a portfolio of Charities, Housing Associations and Social Enterprises.
Nick says: "I was pleased to accept the role at Charity Bank as it offers a refreshing approach to Banking."
George Roff
Savings Administrator
George Roff
Savings Administrator
George joined Charity Bank in April 2018 and now assists the savings department in his role as Savings Administrator.
George says, “being part of the Charity Bank family and providing our savers with excellent customer service is what drives me. Connecting our savers with case studies that illustrates where their money goes is inspiring.”
Meet our management
Management is one of the areas we look into when we assess a loan application. Get to know the people who make up our management team.
Edward Siegel
Chief Executive
Edward Siegel
Chief Executive
Ed joined the Bank as Chief Executive in July 2018 from Big Issue Invest (BII), the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group, where he was Managing Director for nearly ten years. During that time, BII grew from a book of social enterprise loans of around £2 million to a diverse array of social funds under management of over £65 million.
Ed has over 30 years of corporate banking, social investment and business consulting experience. He spent the early part of his career in commercial banking, mainly with Credit Suisse. Before joining BII in 2008, Ed was head of the Small Business Banking practice of ShoreBank International (now known as Enclude) where he oversaw the implementation of SME finance programmes and advised financial institutions throughout the developing world.
On the occasion of his appointment, Ed said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role during such an exciting phase of growth for the bank. Charity Bank has a well-earned reputation and one of the best known brands in our sector. Its mission to use money for good was a key factor in my decision to pursue this opportunity. The bank’s community of borrowers, savers, investors and its team are all working towards one goal – to help strengthen charities and social enterprises so that they can create lasting social change.”
Malcolm Elliott
Support Services Director
Malcolm Elliott
Support Services Director
“My role is to ensure that the bank as a whole delivers our mission to our customers by implementing effective governance arrangements, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our service to customers through development of technology and infrastructure, and providing support for the CEO and Executive Committee on operational transition of the business.”
Malcolm has over 30 years' experience in the banking and insurance sectors. He started his career in banking at RBS and Chase Manhattan which was followed by a period in the banking supervision teams at the Bank of England/Financial Services Authority (FSA). He subsequently moved to the insurance sector where he held positions as Risk Director with Legal & General, in its Mortgage Distribution Company and its Wealth Management division, before joining Just Retirement as its Head of Risk Reporting.
He has supported Charity Bank since its creation, initially at the FSA where he was involved with its authorisation and then as a volunteer member of Audit and Risk Committee. Between 2012 and 2020 he was Charity Bank’s Deputy CEO and Chief Risk Officer.
He is married with three grown up children. He was a trustee of Allergy UK from 2016-2020. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, films, going for walks, and reading.
Gillian Howell
Finance Director
Gillian Howell
Finance Director
Gillian worked closely with Charity Bank from 2009, covering a number of line and project roles. In August 2016, Gillian was appointed Finance Director.
A Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants body, Gillian has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector. She has covered a diverse range of roles from Management, Financial and Strategic accounting through to large scale Programme Management for a range of banks and financial institutions including Deutche Bank, Bankers Trust, Mitsubishi Finance Dean Witter and GT Asset Management.
Since moving into ethical finance, she has used her skills to support Charity Bank’s banking for good model, using finance to support charities and social enterprises across the UK.
Caspar Mackay
Director of Credit
Caspar Mackay
Director of Credit
Caspar started his career at HSBC as an International Manager, working for seven years in a variety of commercial and retail banking roles in Asia and the Middle East.
After graduating from INSEAD with distinction, he founded and managed a retail business which he sold in late 2009.
Caspar worked for over four years for Big Issue Invest Limited, before joining Charity Bank in June 2014.
Caspar was made Head of Credit and became an Executive Director of Charity Bank in February 2015.
Carolyn Sims
Director of Lending
Carolyn Sims
Director of Lending
Carolyn began her banking career with National Westminster Bank before moving on to MLA Bank Limited where she had responsibility for property investment and development lending.
After Dexia Public Finance acquired MLA Bank in the early 1990’s, Carolyn went on to become responsible for the bank’s social housing activities. She arranged finance for the first housing PFI scheme and also worked on project finance and limited recourse financing deals.
She then worked for the Charities Aid Foundation briefly in
2005 in its business development team before joining Charity Bank in October
2005.
Carolyn is a trustee / treasurer of a number of charities.
Mark Howland
Director of Marketing and Communications
Mark Howland
Director of Marketing and Communications
“My role is focused on raising awareness of how loans, savings and investments can be a powerful force for good. I am hugely impressed by the people behind the organisations we work with. It is a privilege to be able to share the inspiring stories of how our borrowers are improving lives.”
Mark has created and implemented marketing and communications strategies for Charity Bank for the past 18 years, as we have grown from a £6m pilot fund to a £250m impact driven bank. He has a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing, BA Honours Degree, and Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.
His experience includes communications consultancy to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in Kenya and volunteering in different capacities for social sector organisations. Mark also holds a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies and enjoys long walks, cycling and country pubs.
Thomas Ralph
Chief Risk Officer
Thomas Ralph
Chief Risk Officer
“My role is to lead and oversee risk management at Charity Bank, helping us to grow as a business in a safe and sustainable way and thereby support more of the amazing organisations that come to us.”
Thomas joined Charity Bank in October 2020 and has over 10 years’ experience in bank risk management, having worked previously at Metro Bank and Lloyds Banking Group. He has also worked in consulting, at EY’s financial services risk practice.
Thomas is married and he and his wife both hail from County Cork in Ireland. He is an international tag rugby referee and keen on escape room games, having played over 50 different rooms around Europe. Thomas also teaches religious classes for children at his local Catholic church.
Meet our board members
Our non-executive directors give us their time, social sector knowledge and financial expertise for free. Meet our critical friends.
Alan Hodson
Chairman
Alan Hodson
Chairman
Alan Hodson was appointed as Chairman in May 2019. Alan retired from UBS in June 2005, having been the Global Head of Equities, a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Managing Board.
He has since held positions on a variety of financial and charity boards, including as Chairman of Trustees of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. He is the Chairman of JP Morgan Elect plc and a non-executive Director of Harbourvest Global Private Equity.
Mike Crabb
Non-Executive Director
Mike Crabb
Non-Executive Director
Mike was appointed as a non-executive director in January 2017. He has been an advisor to the Charity Bank board credit committee since June 2014.
Mike was most recently at Standard Bank, where he served as Chief Executive of Standard Merchant Bank (Asia) Ltd., based in Singapore, and also managed the bank’s principal investment management portfolio.
He has a wide experience of corporate and investment banking, having previously been at CIBC World Markets. As well as the business development side, he has also sat on risk committees for both institutions, and managed several large recoveries. Mike has worked in the Middle East, Asia and UK and is a non-executive director of Ocean Housing Group Ltd.
Malcolm Elliott
Executive Director
Malcolm Elliott
Executive Director
“My role is to ensure that the bank as a whole delivers our mission to our customers by implementing effective governance arrangements, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our service to customers through development of technology and infrastructure, and providing support for the CEO and Executive Committee on operational transition of the business.”
Malcolm has over 30 years' experience in the banking and insurance sectors. He started his career in banking at RBS and Chase Manhattan which was followed by a period in the banking supervision teams at the Bank of England/Financial Services Authority (FSA). He subsequently moved to the insurance sector where he held positions as Risk Director with Legal & General, in its Mortgage Distribution Company and its Wealth Management division, before joining Just Retirement as its Head of Risk Reporting.
He has supported Charity Bank since its creation, initially at the FSA where he was involved with its authorisation and then as a volunteer member of Audit and Risk Committee. Between 2012 and 2020 he was Charity Bank’s Deputy CEO and Chief Risk Officer.
He is married with three grown up children. He was a trustee of Allergy UK from 2016-2020. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, films, going for walks, and reading.
David Godfrey CBE
Non-Executive Director
David Godfrey CBE
Non-Executive Director
David Godfrey was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in August 2013.
David recently retired from his position as Chief Executive of UK Export Finance (ECGD). Prior to taking up the role of CEO, David had been Chief Risk Officer at Pension Insurance Corporation, a speciality insurer of defined benefit pension schemes.
He has extensive experience of corporate banking and insurance, having held posts as Head of Risk for the Wholesale Banking Division at Lloyds Banking Group from 2009 to 2011 and as a member of the Executive Board of Swiss Re. At Swiss Re he was also Chief Risk Officer for the Financial Services Group.
David has also held positions with JP Morgan in London and New York and prior to that, with Bankers Trust Company.
Anna Shiel
Non-Executive Director
Anna Shiel
Non-Executive Director
Anna Shiel was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in April 2014.
Anna is currently Senior Investment Director at Big Society Capital. Big Society Capital is an independent financial institution with a social mission, set up to help grow the social investment market, so that charities and social enterprises who want to borrow money, or take on investment, can access the finance they need to do more.
Before joining Big Society Capital in 2012, Anna was a Director in Merrill Lynch’s Financial Institutions Group with responsibility for UK financial sector coverage. She spent twelve years at Merrill Lynch, providing strategic advice to banks, insurers and asset managers and working on an extensive range of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and IPOs.
Edward Siegel
Chief Executive
Edward Siegel
Chief Executive
Ed joined the Bank as Chief Executive in July 2018 from Big Issue Invest (BII), the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group, where he was Managing Director for nearly ten years. During that time, BII grew from a book of social enterprise loans of around £2 million to a diverse array of social funds under management of over £65 million.
Ed has over 30 years of corporate banking, social investment and business consulting experience. He spent the early part of his career in commercial banking, mainly with Credit Suisse. Before joining BII in 2008, Ed was head of the Small Business Banking practice of ShoreBank International (now known as Enclude) where he oversaw the implementation of SME finance programmes and advised financial institutions throughout the developing world.
On the occasion of his appointment, Ed said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role during such an exciting phase of growth for the bank. Charity Bank has a well-earned reputation and one of the best known brands in our sector. Its mission to use money for good was a key factor in my decision to pursue this opportunity. The bank’s community of borrowers, savers, investors and its team are all working towards one goal – to help strengthen charities and social enterprises so that they can create lasting social change.”
Toby Walter
Non-Executive Director
Toby Walter
Non-Executive Director
Toby became a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in December 2016.
Toby is currently Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy for Global Private Banking at HSBC. Toby joined HSBC in 2017 as Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy for Europe.
Prior to HSBC he was at Lloyds Banking Group (‘LBG’) where he was Home Insurance Director and led a transformation of the Home Insurance business across LBG’s multiple brands and distribution channels increasing market share and improving customer service. Toby was Director of LBG’s Group Chief Executive Office where he provided support and counsel to the Group CEO during a period of significant restructuring and turnaround of the bank to profitability, dividends and selling government owned shares.
Toby is a Chartered Accountant and has extensive banking experience, having held leadership positions across private equity, leveraged finance, portfolio management, corporate banking, digital, treasury and trading. He enjoys all sports and has coached mini-rugby for 10 years.
Charlotte Ravenscroft
Non-Executive Director
Charlotte Ravenscroft
Non-Executive Director
Charlotte Ravenscroft was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in June 2020.
Charlotte works as a consultant, advising charities on strategy, collaboration and external affairs. She draws on her experience working with major charities, charitable foundations and central government, to help organisations consider how they can best achieve their goals.
Previously, Charlotte was Head of Policy and Research at NCVO from 2012-2016. In this role, Charlotte played a key role in NCVO’s mission to champion the voluntary sector in England.
Prior to NCVO, Charlotte worked at the Department for Education and on secondment at the Big Lottery Fund helping to design its funding programmes for young people.
Jonathan Britton
Non-Executive Director
Jonathan Britton
Non-Executive Director
Jonathan joined Charity Bank in June 2020. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at both Nomura Europe Holdings and The British Business Bank.
Jonathan has extensive experience of investment, corporate and retail banking. He was a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Management Board and Group Controller and Treasurer of Barclays Bank Plc. He was Finance Director and Head of Strategy for the Wholesale business of Lloyds Banking Group prior to his retirement in 2012.
He was a Trustee of Sparks, The Children’s medical research charity for 11 years and Chair for 5 years and has also served as a Director of the Business Disability Forum. Jonathan holds a degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Caroline Price
Non-Executive Director
Caroline Price
Non-Executive Director
Caroline Price was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in October 2020.
Caroline is currently an Executive Director at the Big Life group with responsibility for Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services. The Big Life group is a large social enterprise working with more than 65,000 people each year in some of the most deprived areas in the north of England. Caroline joined Big Life Group in 2005 as Finance Director after roles in manufacturing, consultancy, and energy sectors.
The Baring Foundation was created in 1969 as a corporate foundation of Barings Bank, a major London-based merchant bank that can trace its history back to 1762. After Barings Bank collapsed, The Baring Foundation became an independent foundation operating, through use of endowment, to improve the quality of life of people experiencing disadvantage and discrimination.
The foundation makes grants to voluntary and other civil society organisations. It also shares knowledge and aims to influence others to drive progress on key social issues. The Baring Foundation’s three grants programmes focus on arts, international development and strengthening the voluntary sector.
The Barrow Cadbury Trust is an independent charitable foundation, committed to bringing about socially just change. It provides grants to grassroots community groups and campaigns working in deprived communities in the UK, with a focus on Birmingham and the Black Country.
It also works with researchers, think tanks and government, often in partnership with other grant-makers, to overcome the structural barriers to a more just and equal society. The Trust was founded in 1920 by Barrow Cadbury and his wife Geraldine Southall Cadbury.
Big Society Capital is a financial institution with a social mission, set up to build the social investment market in the UK, so that charities and social enterprises can access appropriate repayable finance to enable them to grow, become more sustainable and increase their impact on society.
It is doing this by building a diverse social investment market: encouraging investors to lend or invest money to achieve a social as well as a financial return.
Since it was set up as an independent organisation in 2012, Big Society Capital has committed over £165 million in investments to specialist organisations who lend to charities and social enterprises.
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) helps people and businessessupport the causes they care about, and provides straightforward day-to-daybanking and fundraising services to charities, freeing them up to concentrateon the real work of making a difference. As a charity itself, making an impactin the sector is core to CAF’s mission, and it has also spearheaded many of thechanges that make the UK one of the best giving environments in the world.
Since 1979 The Community Foundation For Northern Ireland has been working at the heart of local communities. It aims to reduce poverty and exclusion among the most disadvantaged in society and to make Northern Ireland more inclusive, peaceful and equitable.
The foundation believes in the power of community activity to change Northern Ireland for the better. So it works in partnership with communities, encouraging them to be proud of who they are and what they have achieved. It also works with local and international donors, helping connect them to people and projects which are strengthening community and changing people’s lives.
Cumbria Community Foundation exists to tackle poverty and disadvantage and strengthen Cumbria’s communities by connecting fund holders and people who donate money with inspirational, life changing projects.
Providing strategic philanthropic services to individuals, families and organisations, it is the county’s largest grant making charity with endowed assets in excess of £14m. Since 1999 it has awarded £25m in grant aid and more than £2.4m annually through 60 grant making funds. It has funded over 4,000 organisations and 3,000 individuals.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation was established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn as a memorial to his wife Esmée. Today it is one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK.
The foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. It does this by funding the charitable work of organisations that have the ideas and ability to achieve positive change.
It makes grants of £30 - £35 million annually towards a wide range of work within the arts, children and young people, the environment and social change. It also operates a £26 million Finance Fund which invests in organisations that aim to deliver both a financial return and a social benefit.
The Frederick Mulder Foundation is a London-based charitable trust funded by Frederick Mulder's business as a dealer in European Printmaking from 1470 to 1970.
The Foundation envisions a world which is fair, secure and environmentally sustainable, and in which the rights of future generations are respected in decisions taken today.
Towards these ends, it primarily funds organisations which address the development of social change philanthropy, the threat of climate change and the persistence of global poverty.
LankellyChase Foundation exists to bring about change that will transform the quality of life of people who face severe and multiple disadvantage. It focuses particularly on the persistent clustering of social harms such as homelessness, substance misuse, mental and physical illness, extreme poverty, and violence and abuse.
It undertakes a range of activities including grant making, special initiatives and commissioned research and policy analysis. It aims to solve problems by supporting or promoting action based on a robust analysis of both the problem and its underlying causes.
Its fundamental goal is to help shift the way that people on the extreme margins are valued by society, so that policy, public debate and practice focus on people’s capabilities and humanity.
Each day, millions of people make a difference to the causes they believe in through voluntary organisations and volunteering. This thriving voluntary sector and volunteer movement are essential to a better society – especially in times of challenge and change.
Inspired and empowered by 11,000 members, NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteering. It does this by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations, from the smallest community groups to the largest charities.
The Nuffield Foundation is a charitable trust established in 1943 by William Morris, Lord Nuffield, the founder of Morris Motors.
Lord Nuffield wanted to contribute to improvements in society, including the expansion of education and the alleviation of disadvantage. He called this the ‘advancement of social well-being’, and emphasised the importance of education, training and research in achieving that goal.
Today, the Nuffield Foundation works to improve social well-being by funding research and innovation in education and social policy. It also works to increase research capacity, both in science and social science.
The Tudor Trust is an independent grant-making charitable trust which supports organisations working in any part of the UK.
It funds a wide range of people and organisations working to build stronger communities. The Tudor Trust avoids creating specific funding programmes designed to advance a particular agenda as it believes that the groups it supports are best placed to identify problems and develop solutions.
Tudor supports work which tries to meet the many different needs of people at the margins of our society. It is interested in how organisations tackle these needs, and their root causes and seeks to work with organisations which understand the challenges facing the communities they support, and have a clear sense of the difference they seek to make through their work.
The Vodafone Foundation uses innovative communications technology to help drive social change and improve people’s lives. Supporting the communities in which Vodafone operates, the Foundation sits at the centre of a network of social investment programmes.
28 Vodafone Foundations across the globe fund projects aimed at a range of issues from improving healthcare and education to supporting disaster relief and preparedness. The Foundation works to combine Vodafone’s charitable giving with the company’s innovative technology, data & networks to drive social change, providing people with the tools that enable them to improve their lives.
The Wates Foundation is an independent grant-making charity. It awards grants directly to charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, social enterprises and other established community groups.
Wates Family members seek out charities to support, often from within their local community and invite them to apply.
Its grant making activities are categorised into six themes: Building Social Values; Education and Employment; Community Health; Life Transitions; Safer Communities; and Strengthening the Voluntary Sector.