Financial Times chooses MSF for its 2016 Christmas appeal partner
Howard Lake | 5 December 2016 | News
The Financial Times has chosen Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF UK) as its partner in its seasonal appeal this year.
The newspaper is raising awareness of and funds for the charity, inviting its readers to support the charity. It has published features about the charity’s work, including audio reports and film, including a 360 degree video report from the Democratic Republic of Congo by David Pilling and Charlie Bibby.
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Its journalists have traveled with MSF staff across four continents to present their stories.
Over the past 10 years the FT’s seasonal appeal has raised over £16 million for charities.
“In a year of global crisis, in which conflict and persecution have forced millions of people to flee their homes and countries in desperate circumstances, its work has never been more necessary”.
He adds that the two organisations share similar values:
“Wherever it goes, MSF operates within its own strict guidelines. It gives free medical care based solely on need, regardless of politics or religion. It takes no side in any conflict and, to preserve its independence, it rarely accepts any funding from governments or institutions. Ninety per cent of its income comes in small amounts from individual donors.
“These are principles the FT supports wholeheartedly”.
The newspaper’s appeal is running from three weeks from 24 November, with content appearing both in the newspaper and at FT.com.
The appeal has drawn criticism from Breitbart London both in terms of the charity’s support for the mental health of migrants, and for the newspaper’s preference to use the word ‘seasonal’ instead of ‘Christmas’.
The charity responded to both criticisms via Twitter with what it called “a bit of sass this Friday afternoon”:
- Financial Times moves from seasonal appeal to charitable initiative (19 November 2020)
- Financial Times features charitable giving (16 October 2002)
- Financial Times launches charity to promote financial literacy and inclusion (15 September 2021)
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.