Bartercard enables corporates' non-cash donations to benefit British Red Cross
Howard Lake | 26 November 2004 | News
Business trade exchange Bartercard UK is to encourage companies to donate unused services or products to the British Red Cross.
Having signed a sponsorship deal worth £100,000 with the British Red Cross, Bartercard UK is to allow businesses of any size and from any sector around the world to donate their unused products and services via the international Bartercard network, with all proceeds going to the British Red Cross.
The partnership is designed to appeal to companies that wish to support a charity but don’t have the spare cash available.
Advertisement
Bartercard UK is part of an international bartering network that allows businesses to sell any spare capacity or down time in return for goods and services they need for their own business. Almost anything can be
traded within the network, as member businesses offer everything from
sectors such as manufacturing, transport, IT and financial services through
to retail, hospitality and consumer services.
Bartercard UK expects that donations will be surprisingly varied, from unused computers and electrical goods to a set amount of consultancy time or advertising space. Bartercard will then sell these contributions into the network and donate all the proceeds to the British Red Cross.
Transactions are made using Trade Pounds, which have the same pound for pound value as sterling, and it is with this that the British Red Cross will be able to source various items, ranging from car rental, printing and business services to advertising, medical products and uniforms.
With a membership of over 70,000 companies around the world, Bartercard will enable the charity to source essentials from over 16 countries.
Wayne Sharpe, CEO of Bartercard, believes this is a pioneering style of sponsorship which is ideal for charities that are in constant need of support on all levels. He said: “thinking and working outside the traditional cash world will hopefully encourage businesses to be imaginative and resourceful when it comes to giving to charity.”
Paul Marvell, Head of Major Donors and Events, British Red Cross comments: “Bartercard has really opened our eyes to new ways in which the British Red Cross can source the things we need day to day. Companies that may not be in a position to donate cash, can instead think laterally and donate excess goods and services, knowing that Bartercard can easily convert this into
things the charity really needs. It’s a whole new way of raising money and we’re delighted to be a part of it.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.