Inaugural small charities match funding campaign launches

Small charities are being urged to apply to take part in an inaugural match funding campaign taking place later this year.

The seven-day campaign will run from 23 to 30 June to coincide with Small Charity Week and will see public donations matched by funding raised through the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The deadline for charities to apply is 2 April, with funding offers to be announced by 2 May.

Charities with an annual income of between £5,000 and £1m can take part in the online fundraising campaign. It will be hosted by Big Give, which runs regular match funding pushes and has already raised £345m for charities since it launched in 2007.

Also involved are Global Make Some Noise, the charity arm of media firm Global. It will support the campaign by selecting and distributing matched grants directly to small charities.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Big Give and NCVO on Small Charity Week,” said Suzanne Ryder Richardson, Global Make Some Noise’s director of global goodness.

“The power of small charities, operating at the heart of local communities, really can’t be underestimated.

“We are delighted to be able to support and champion even more small charities delivering vital work across the UK.”

The campaign is also backed by sector body NCVO which will support small charities to raise money.

“We believe resilient charities create stronger communities, but the reality is small charities are under more pressure than ever,” said NCVO chief executive Sarah Elliot.

“Costs are rising, demand is increasing and funding is falling.”

She added that the match funding campaign will be “vital to helping Small Charity Week have an even bigger impact in 2025 - building public awareness of the issues facing charities, providing more practical resources to help staff and volunteers build their skills and increasing financial support so that organisations across the country can continue their invaluable work.”

Big Give chair James Reed said: “Small charities are the lifeblood of communities across the UK, and we are proud to shine a spotlight on them.

“By harnessing the power of match funding, we can multiply the public’s generosity and provide small charities with the support and recognition they need.”