# MissionFish UK makes grants to help charities fundraise online

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/03/20/missionfish-uk-makes-grants-help-charities-fundraise-online/
- Published: 2012-03-20T16:33:46+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

MissionFish UK, eBay’s partner charity, has made its first grants to help UK charities
develop and expand their online businesses. Eighty eight charities applied and eight
were selected to receive a total of £73,398.

The grant recipients were:

· Age UK Solihull

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· Saint Michael’s Hospice

· St Peter’s Hospice

· CLIC Sargent

· Ministry of Stories

· Kiveton Park & Wales Community Development Trust

· Kirkwood Hospice

· Sense

## Reason for grants scheme

[The grants scheme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/15/google-grants-for-charities/)
was introduced following research by the Charity Retail Association (CRA) into the
barriers experienced by its members to their online trading operations. The survey
found that 94% of charities selling online were using eBay, which accounted for 
76% of their sales on average. However, only 29% were generating more than 3% of
their trading income online.

The members cited lack of working capital, lack of IT equipment, and logistical 
and staffing issues as the reasons that were holding them back from making more 
from online trading.

Nick Aldridge, Chief Executive of MissionFish UK, said: “A growing number of UK 
charities have identified online fundraising as a big opportunity over the next 
few years. But funds for investment are scarce and charities struggle to find the
resources for new operations from scratch.”

Ecommerce solution provider 247 TopSeller is supporting the grants by offering ecommerce
consultancy and advice, along with a design upgrade and accompanying hosting and
support, free of charge to some of the charities.

## How the grants will be used

Sense will be using its grant to fund a new part-time position in its Online Retail
Department. CLIC Sargent will use theirs to revamp and expand its eBay Team’s workspace
with new computers, cameras, display, shelving and storage equipment.

Charities enjoyed a record year of trading on eBay during 2011, generating £6.25
million from their sales, a 56% increase on 2010’s figure of £4.01 million.

For example, Saint Michael’s Hospice reported that it had raised £10,939 from online
trading in the last quarter of 2011 leading up to Christmas. It sold 800 items, 
with an original World War I jacket selling for £835.

## Will there by further grants?

Nick Aldridge said: “We’re delighted our grants scheme has proven so much in demand,
and will look at expanding it once we’ve reviewed the impact of the first round.”

www.missionfish.org.uk

 * **[Four small charities to win eBay Give at Checkout places](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/04/05/four-small-charities-win-ebay-give-checkout-places-day/)**(
   5 April 2012)
 * **[Fundraising statistics for eBay for Charity UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/09/25/fundraising-statistics-ebay-charity-uk/)**(
   25 September 2012)
 * **[How to sell bizarre items on eBay for charity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/15/how-sell-bizarre-items-ebay-charity/)**(
   15 November 2012)

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