TheGivingMachine handles its one millionth donation to good causes
Howard Lake | 20 December 2013 | News
The Giving Machine, the online shopping site that generates income for good causes throughout the UK, has handled its one millionth donation to schools and charities across the UK. The site, set up in 2007, has now raised over £695,000 from almost £26 million of sales at no extra cost to shoppers.
Deloitte predicts that £5 billion will be spent online during the festive period. If this shopping was made via TheGivingMachine then it could raise £200 million for charities within that short time.
Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise UK, the national body for businesses with a social mission, commented:
“TheGivingMachine is a smart and simple way to get some of Britain’s biggest retailers to give a little back. Uniting businesses and consumers in support of social causes is critical at a time when living standards are worsening and inequality is on the rise”.
Almost 800 stores participate in TheGivingMachine scheme, including Next, Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, M&S and Sainsbury’s. Over 6,300 schools and charities across the country have benefited through the site.
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How it works
Every purchase made generates a cash commission based on a percentage of the sale, paid by the retailer. TheGivingMachine then converts this into a charitable donation to pay towards shoppers’ chosen charities.
TheGivingMachine converts 75% of commission income into donations, “the highest in its sector” it claims, and enables givers to support up to four causes of their choice.
TheGivingMachine founder and managing director, Richard Morris, author of Givenomics, said:
“One million donations is a real landmark for us and the growing community we serve. Shoppers are making a conscious decision to make a difference to something they care about. We’re changing the way we buy online.”
He added that theGivingMachine is “the only not-for-profit, social enterprise using this affiliate marketing scheme to generate donations”. The organisation was awarded The Social Enterprise mark in 2011.
The site was set up by four Hertfordshire fathers who met up on a Thursday night in the spring of 2006 and agreed to use their different business skills to benefit charities and schools rather than profits for shareholders.
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.