The online matching platform for the charitable sector has now dispersed a total of £8.5m to good causes
Newbury, 18 September 2018 – Not-for-profit, charity-owned online charitable giving platform The Good Exchange has today announced significant growth figures as it celebrates its second anniversary. In the second year of operations, the platform has experienced 76 percent year-on-year growth in grants and a 26 percent rise in donations made via its platform. New applicants are also up by 75 percent.
One of the many projects supported by The Good Exchange in the last year was London-based Voyage Youth’s fundraising for its flagship Young Leaders for Safer Cities (YLFSC) BTEC course. Paul Anderson MBE, the organisation’s chief executive commented: “We have ambitious plans for the future and recognise that we need the support of likeminded organisations and individuals in order to achieve our objectives. We’re thrilled to be working with The Good Exchange to reach our fundraising goal, which will help us to change the futures of marginalised BME youngsters in the capital.”
Meanwhile, from a grant-maker’s perspective, Councillor Christine Simm, executive board member for Supporting Local Communities, recently made the following comments regarding The Good Exchange’s support of Oxford City Council’s Small Community Grants Programme 2018-19: “Our partnership with The Good Exchange will not only make it easier for local charities and community groups in Oxford to access much needed funding, but it also creates opportunities for groups to leverage further funding from other grant makers and generate donations and support through fundraising activities.”
Commenting on their work with The Good Exchange to distribute the Government and National Lottery-backed #iwill fund, Jayne Woodley, CEO of Oxfordshire Community Foundation said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the #iwill Fund to increase participation in social action from young people from lower social economic groups and those who might not usually take part in these types of activities. Working with The Good Exchange, we will be able to streamline the application process, reach and collaborate strategically with other funders to provide match funding, and encourage applicants to drive donations and fundraising of their own to help them meet the qualification criteria.”
In the last 12 months, The Good Exchange has also been shortlisted for two awards: the most innovative cloud product or service in the Computing Cloud Excellence Awards and The Newbury Weekly News’ Best in Business Awards. In other developments, a new website has been launched, helping to drive 76% growth in visitors to the platform along with a new YouTube channel, which is helping to educate and inform charitable organisational users on anything from social media training to best practice case studies.
“We’ve been proud to support many varied and excellent fundraising projects and the growing number of grant givers who see the huge benefits of collaborative funding on our platform this year, and are thrilled to report such significant rates of growth,” said Ed Gairdner, COO of The Good Exchange. “Our users recognise that our charity-owned status ensures that everything we do is always in the best interests of the charitable sector and this momentum is certainly reflected in the extremely positive feedback we’re receiving on our platform. It’s encouraging to hear how it’s making a real difference to charitable projects, helping to close the funding gap and boosting collaboration between funders and fundraisers.”
As well as being registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Payment Services Regulations for the provision of payment services (PSD2) as fit and proper to carry on a regulated financial service, detect and deter money laundering and protect user data, The Good Exchange is also now officially registered with the Fundraising Regulator, in recognition that its processes and operations align with the Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice. As a non-profit organisation, wholly owned by a registered charity, The Good Exchange’s core principles are based on transparency and fairness to donors, fundraisers, grant-makers and the charities and good causes that receive funds.
About The Good Exchange
The Good Exchange is a transformational not-for-profit cloud platform specifically designed to match those organisations and individuals who have money to give to good causes with those who need it most; on a local, regional and national basis. As the only platform to bring together grant-making, donations, charitable projects and fundraising in one place, the automated matching system with its simple single on-line application form will revolutionise charitable giving, making it more accessible, transparent and collaborative. For the first time, those seeking to raise money for local good causes will be able to access all sources of funding including charitable trusts, corporate givers, fundraisers and public through a single process.
Media contacts
Charlotte Martin
The Good Exchange team at Finn Partners
TheGoodExchange@finnpartners.com
020 3217 7060