Fundraiser sees huge amount raised fror good causes
More than £15.6 million was raised in just seven days through the UK’s biggest match funding drive, it has been revealed.
The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge saw charity patrons and celebrities including Hugh Dennis, Gyles Brandreth, Bob Wilson and Clare Balding all calling on the public to give to good causes.
Running from 03-10 December 2019, the Big Give inspired tens of thousands of people with donations matched, pound for pound, doubling the impact of their gifts.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE, founder of The Big Give, said: “The public’s generosity to this year’s Christmas Challenge has been phenomenal. It demonstrates just how much the public values the work of UK charities and the services they provide. Donations raised through the campaign will address some of the most critical issues in society from funding life-saving research to tackling climate change.
“Match funding has proved to be an incredibly powerful incentive to give, enabling the public to maximise their impact on good causes. We’re deeply thankful to our funding champions for their crucial role in this campaign and inspiring the nation to give.”
Matched funding of over £7.2 million was provided by over 20 funding champions, including Reed Foundation, The Childhood Trust, Four Acre Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and through charities’ major donors and philanthropists.
This year’s appeal far exceeds the previous Christmas Challenge record of £13.3 million in 2018 and brings the total raised since 2007 – when The Big Give launched – to £129 million.
Having raised over £100,000 through this year’s appeal, Friends of the Earth’s philanthropy manager, Jo Finburgh said: “We are completely bowled over by the public’s generosity in response to this year’s Christmas Challenge, with so many people choosing to take action and support our Climate Ambition campaign.
“Friends of the Earth has taken part in The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge for the past 9 years, raising tens of thousands of pounds for our climate change, air pollution and anti-fracking work. We see the Christmas Challenge as a fantastic platform to engage our supporters, inspiring them to give by enabling them to double their donations toward our vital work.”
