Big Give

Big Give
Name	Big Give
Genre	Philanthropy fundraising
Country	United Kingdom
First aired	2007
Creator	Charitable Partnerships

Big Give is a UK-based philanthropic campaign platform that organizes matched-funding drives and charitable challenges, engaging charities, donors, foundations, corporations, and media partners. It operates seasonal campaigns and targeted drives that connect registered charities with public donors, foundations such as Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and corporate partners like Barclays and HSBC through matching pledges and challenge funds. The initiative draws on models used by Comic Relief, Children in Need, CAF America, and platforms such as JustGiving and GoFundMe to amplify donations.

Overview

The project runs time-limited giving events that pair charitable organizations with match funders including philanthropic institutions such as Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Prince's Trust, and regional bodies like Nesta and Big Lottery Fund. Campaigns commonly involve partnerships with broadcast outlets like BBC, newspapers such as The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, and corporate social responsibility arms of Unilever, Tesco, and Sainsbury's. The mechanism echoes matched-giving traditions from initiatives associated with Red Cross, Oxfam, and UNICEF while leveraging digital tools from Facebook, Twitter, and Stripe for online giving and payment processing.

History

Founded in the mid-2000s, the platform evolved through collaborations with charities including Shelter, RSPCA, Save the Children, British Heart Foundation, and Cancer Research UK. Early development involved fundraising innovations promoted at conferences like Skoll World Forum and supported by philanthropic advisors from Institute of Fundraising and Charity Commission for England and Wales. Expansion coincided with high-profile campaigns connected to events such as the 2012 Summer Olympics and humanitarian responses alongside Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières. Over time it integrated grant-making strategies practiced by institutions such as European Commission funding schemes and regional trusts like City Bridge Trust.

Format and Rules

Participating organisations must be registered charities or not-for-profits with compliance similar to standards set by Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR (Scotland), or Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Match funders often include family offices, foundations such as Arcadia Fund and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and corporate donors from sectors represented by Confederation of British Industry members. Campaign rounds use time-limited windows akin to GivingTuesday events and employ tiers, stretch targets, and seed funds inspired by practices from Nesta Challenge Prizes and philanthropic models promoted by The Philanthropy Workshop. Financial controls reference guidance from Financial Conduct Authority and auditing standards similar to Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Impact and Reception

Assessments cite increased fundraising totals and donor engagement for beneficiaries including Macmillan Cancer Support, RNLI, Age UK, British Red Cross, and niche groups like ShelterBox and Calais Refugee Crisis responders. Independent evaluations compare its multiplier effect to campaigns by GiveDirectly and GlobalGiving, and academic studies from institutions such as London School of Economics, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge have analyzed behavioural responses. Media coverage in outlets like BBC Newsnight, Channel 4 News, The Times, and Financial Times has explored outcomes alongside commentaries by experts from Nesta, Institute for Fiscal Studies, and New Philanthropy Capital.

Notable Winners and Campaigns

Prominent successful campaigns included drives benefiting Refugee Council, Mind (charity), Prostate Cancer UK, Children's Society, Barnardo's, and environmental projects with partners like Friends of the Earth and WWF. Collaborative emergency appeals aligned with responses by Disasters Emergency Committee and international relief coordinated with UNICEF and World Food Programme have mobilised rapid funds. Corporate-civic collaborations involved brands such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis Partnership, and Aviva supporting regional causes like Manchester Community Foundation and London Community Foundation.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have focused on distributional effects compared with unrestricted grants from bodies like Paul Hamlyn Foundation or Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, concerns raised by commentators affiliated with Compass and New Statesman, and debates in academic forums such as The Guardian Politics pages. Questions include whether match-driven incentives privilege well-marketed charities over smaller organisations akin to critiques of Big Society initiatives, echoing controversies seen in debates about philanthrocapitalism and celebrity-led campaigns tied to personalities like Bono or Richard Branson. Regulatory scrutiny has intersected with reporting by Charity Commission for England and Wales and coverage in Private Eye over governance, transparency, and overhead allocation.

Category:Charitable fundraising