The Big Step’s Post

This Giving Tuesday, we’re proud to share that the BGF Foundation has provided £375,000 of unrestricted funding to our charity partners in 2024. Our partners are transforming lives across the UK, empowering young people to unlock their potential: - LTSB is a social mobility charity helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds secure meaningful employment. - MyBnk equips young people with essential financial literacy skills, empowering them to make confident decisions about their money and futures. - Social Enterprise Academy International inspires young people to explore enterprise as a viable and rewarding career path. As we look to 2025, we’re thrilled to grow our portfolio, partnering with more organisations that share our vision for creating opportunities, driving change, and supporting young people across the UK. Learn more about how the BGF Foundation is driving meaningful impact: https://lnkd.in/dERg-ZS7 #GivingTuesday #BGFFoundation #SocialImpact #BGFGoodGrowth

We're On a Mission To Do More - Our Social Responsibility Adoptee, Sandaalhout Primary School in Delft, Needs Your #CSI and #Volunteer Support Classrooms are overflowing, funding is severely lacking, resources are low and staff routinely have to reach into their own pockets to provide learners with materials and stationery. We've identified five key areas of improvement - Resources, Stationery, Technology, Playground and Volunteering. All funds raised from these drives will go straight into resource and infrastructure improvements at the school, aiding the dedicated staff in facilitating a more conducive learning environment for students. We’ve also committed to doing our part. Angels Resource Centres and Lead Academy staff will be volunteering on the ground, but we need additional funding and resources to make a real difference. We will facilitate at least five fundraising events in 2025, but we could do so much more with Your Support. Reach Out If You or Your Company Can Help: angels@angelsinc.co.za | 0861 111 950 | angelsinc.co.za #CorporateSocialInvestment #CorporateSocial #CorporateSocialResponsibility #CSR #SocioEconomicDevelopment #SupportOurSchools #SupportEducation #CallForSupport #NPO #SouthAfrica

I’ve noticed that raising funds for a cause is a common go-to action for students, not only during the PYP Exhibition but also across the MYP. While fundraising is meaningful, I believe there’s so much more we can empower students to do to create lasting impacts! To expand their perspective on what action can look like, I’ve compiled a list of alternative options to present and discuss with my class that go beyond financial contributions. What are some other creative ways students can take meaningful action that don’t involve fundraising? 🌍 https://lnkd.in/d-xp-DhS #PYPExhibition #StudentAction #EducationForChange

Did you know that a staggering number of households survive on an average income of R1000 or less per month? This means that millions of people are barely getting by, struggling to afford basic necessities, and often going hungry for parts of the month. The harsh reality is that basics are costly in today's economy, leaving many families with impossible choices between paying bills, buying food, or accessing healthcare. At The Gryphon Foundation, we believe that no one should have to live like this. That's why we're committed to raising the average household income in our target communities to a minimum of R17,000 per month. We're doing this by: - Growing local economies through SME sustainability, growth, and resilience - Sponsoring programmes that foster interdependent business communities that co-create strategies for success We need YOUR help to make this possible. Every donation, no matter the size, will significantly support our mission. Your contribution can provide essential resources for training and intern placements, giving the youth the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. Click below to #Donate: https://lnkd.in/d2WVfj8A

🏛📊 For many organisations, access to funding and limited fundraising capabilities are common challenges.     To address these challenges head-on, we are proud to announce Access to Funding, a new programmed developed with HVFC - Fundraising · Impact · Talent designed for professionals and organisations who want to increase their fundraising skills and knowledge.     The main activities of the programme include:  💡A fundraising walk-in clinic, where Humanity Hub members can book a free consultation with fundraising experts from HVFC advising on different aspects of fundraising, such as donor strategies, pitching ideas, fundraising strategy, partnerships, proposal writing, multi-lateral funding, impact, monitoring, and evaluation, and more.     💡A series of learning sessions, designed to combine learning and networking components, and providing customised training. These events are open to the entire peace and justice community.  💡An online knowledge repository on the Humanity Hub’s website, which will be a central hub to register for events, discover collaboration opportunities, and engage with our programming.    🔗To learn more and to participate, head over to our website: https://buff.ly/3xsNFhq #fundraising #peaceandjustice #peace #justice #humanityhub #capacitybuilding #nonprofit #civilsociety #fundraisingstrategy #proposalwriting 

Did you know that for £6 you can provide books for one child for a year? and for £2.50 you can provide pens and pencils for one child for a year. However, children in most rural areas of Uganda lack scholastic materials and miss school, miss writing notes and exercises and can’t do revision because they do not have notes. As new school term opens, we are looking for support as many children as can in their education journey. If you could spare anything, please support our Gofundme campaign so that we can provide children in the rural areas of Uganda with scholastic materials. https://lnkd.in/dRJzCy4g No contribution is too small, and your sharing of the campaign is equally cherished. Let's come together to make a difference in the lives of these deserving children. With your support, we can empower orphaned and vulnerable children to succeed and thrive through education. Kwanda Jermaine Craig Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg Chris Manski Kat Kali Council for Advancement and Support of Education EF Education First GEMS Education Supporting Partnerships in Education & Beyond (SPEB) The LEGO Foundation The Education Outcomes Fund Education Cannot Wait (ECW)Education Development Trust International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) Luminos Fund Education Finance Network Education 2030 UN UN Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) edc.org Global Business Coalition for Education Jacobs Foundation Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) France Éducation international France Éducation international International Education Funders Group (IEFG) Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) #crowdfunding #donate #repost #volunteer #fundraising

I read a brilliant (and still relevant) article this week, back from 2019 by Tom Neill-Eagle that’s titled “46% of grants cost more than they’re worth." How on earth can we have a grant funding industry, where almost half the donations (revenue) are costing more to process than the grant itself? That is totally bonkers! It actually makes me angry - given the need in our communities. But, having been active in this space for a number of years, I can believe it. Through ActionFunder we are offering a better, easier and cheaper way of grant funding. A way that reduces costs, admin burden and sees more money go – transparently – to the communities that need it most. The outcome = more impact. And more value.  No-brainer, right? Wrong. I’m going to be brutally honest. I think much of the grant giving world is stuck in old processes and entrenched in admin-heavy ways. But why? 1. Distributing grants isn’t as easy as it sounds. It definitely needs oversight and processes. 2. Change is never easy. 3. People giving out grants have probably the best jobs in the world. They have quasi god-like status deciding who gets funds and when. There is huge power in that role. Why would they want to change? Where’s the incentive? The truth is that there isn’t much incentive. But, by not changing, grant givers are dis-serving the very communities they should be supporting. It’s about the communities, not the funders. We’re on a mission to re-balance the industry dynamics. To stop non-profits from spending a third of their time (£900m pa in the UK) filling in forms for grants, so they can focus on what they do best – changing lives & communities.  We see a world where grant giving is transparent, quick, effective and impactful. Time to change and unblock this mess. Join us if you agree.  PS - This is a feisty article. I’d welcome your comments. #GrantMakingUK #CommunityFundingUK #TechForGoodUK #CorporateGiving #UKFunding #CommunityGrants #ActionFunder #UKCharities

IntoUniversity provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve. They exist to help young people growing up in Britain’s least privileged neighbourhoods who have always faced an uphill struggle. IntoUniversity has a 20-year track record and is currently operating in 22 UK towns and cities. At each IntoUniversity centre, students aged 7-18 participate in a holistic programme of support, designed to raise aspirations, broaden horizons, improve attainment, develop soft skills and provide experience of the world of work, ultimately helping them reach university or professional careers that would not be easily available to them. One of the newest locations for IntoUniversity is Leicester, which has come to the city thanks to a partnership between the University of Leicester and De Montfort University; supported by a grant provided by the Randal Charitable Foundation. For more information click here: https://lnkd.in/eziWsrR7 #SavingLives #RandalFoundation #CharitySupport #Grants #GivingBack #FutureLeaders #EducationForAll Rachael McCormack Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL

Only a few hours to go before the crowdfunding campaign ends. Your donations will help more students move from education into the workforce, enhancing family financial stability & community social mobility. Since 2007, the results for the 27,000 children we have supported so far include thousands of: - Graduations, GCSEs, A-stars, by pupils who had little chance of succeeding in education - Young people from less privileged backgrounds going to top universities - Work experience placements - Apprenticeships secured - Jobs gained in prestigious firms. We need your help to bring our mentoring model and career tools to more young people that need support in the UK. There's still time to make your donation. And remember, every donation will be doubled by Aviva. https://lnkd.in/eZeBVQdQ Thank you to everyone who has pledged their support and donated or shared the campaign to support Urban Synergy's mission. Can we get over £10k? #crowdfunding #mentoringmatters #studentmentoring #inclusiveworkplaces #urbansynergy #ukcharity #ukyouth #racialequity #socialmobility

Securing funding remains one of the toughest barriers to scale. Which led us at @SpringImpact to ask: how do non-profits that successfully sustain solutions at scale secure funding for it? And who’s paying? We're thrilled to share our new report, #SecuringNonProfitFunding, which explores the funding strategies of 28 leading non-profits working across 70 countries. This study offers a clear look at how these organisations harnessed various funding sources to increase their reach and highlights essential lessons for financing larger-scale impact. Download it here: https://bit.ly/4fpEYp4 If you’d like to learn more about this topic, join our webinar on 5 December: https://bit.ly/3UP5KyM