# Big Give Christmas Challenge launches today

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/12/03/big-give-christmas-challenge-launches-today/
- Published: 2019-12-03T08:23:08+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge launches at midday today, Giving Tuesday, with
charitable donations of up to £50,000 per charity matched.**

A record 590 charities are taking part in this year’s [Christmas Challenge](http://click.deliveryengine.agilitypr.com/wf/click?upn=MaJPRWm87-2FpESun-2BTtLKPmZoK3Qro0JP6SCMzgvmip5Q96rYuR7BtbS9D2zozfCMtxgJONK0VQZVLfdlHWc6eA-3D-3D_M-2Bg0z2-2FY4h7ARf0Mo8MdmpPTClwKicDZ3no7H3xwLXXtuGakHp9d3ikGadx5XVFnq46Y2zuZZYCDbP6x6cfinNV6GfL-2BRqwRSTRnj-2FwFjlag45viL-2BbDgQx-2FX1N0u9hAsvwTLbRXb05-2BlaKcGMSaLM1HQsYSJRr7TICKAJsBrSu-2FFaBIEH31A-2BxrTsxhcZhoDF5QUKRA96c49qBu2D4x1Y2-2BpjK-2F7Ln0VastgWb6jVIIfRg84UdYfht9G4ZZ1w91VvlWZDLOCHmSL4s2HU2wWnEY7wg-2Bgvxwn3fTPiQLNX8lXaVQHzam4F-2B94BnV89etPKuMoPJ7b3Vz4hcNA4-2Fl0WohHDh8fD7yIzCKtTsQCeVgu9Eetr2ePtcxkZfSIER5cOLGAia0vIs5sXSqUSjZz3Bb1-2BEUL9BPwd-2F-2FkgVG-2B3k-3D),
which runs from 3 December until 10 December. For these seven days only, donations
given through The Big Give’s website will be matched, pound for pound, doubling 
the impact of their gifts until the match funding pot is emptied.

Also this year, Alexander Armstrong, comedian and presenter of the BBC game show
Pointless, is backing the campaign.

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On its launch, he said:

> “There’s something wonderful about giving to help others, whichever charity you
> support. Whether you choose to tackle cancer or other health conditions, climate
> change, to help the young or the elderly, build bridges, strengthen communities
> or futures, it’s up to you. Whatever you can spare, this is your chance to make
> your donations go twice as far with The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge.”

Up to £25,000 of the £50,000 available for per charity is provided by The Big Give’s
funding champions and the other half from the charity’s major donors. There are 
over 20 funding champions, including Reed Foundation, The Childhood Trust, Four 
Acre Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This year’s campaign aims to 
raise £14 million.

Jonathan Frank, director of [The Big Give](http://click.deliveryengine.agilitypr.com/wf/click?upn=MaJPRWm87-2FpESun-2BTtLKPmZoK3Qro0JP6SCMzgvmip7rfv2444zDSW2DboCrxgFn_M-2Bg0z2-2FY4h7ARf0Mo8MdmpPTClwKicDZ3no7H3xwLXXtuGakHp9d3ikGadx5XVFnq46Y2zuZZYCDbP6x6cfinNV6GfL-2BRqwRSTRnj-2FwFjlag45viL-2BbDgQx-2FX1N0u9hAsvwTLbRXb05-2BlaKcGMSaLM1HQsYSJRr7TICKAJsBrSu-2FFaBIEH31A-2BxrTsxhcZhoDF5QUKRA96c49qBu2D4x1Y2-2BpjK-2F7Ln0VastgWb6jVIHhKXLdXuSuv6Lu-2B-2B7g0QlqZUUsf6wEW33TOrjrEZvMLaXksOJuEi3-2BYdrZq-2FhXJS3B87C20Rtiulcz0KvTDVPLDYeBHQMviNrnrzyMb5lKeZ4PsjQG0zBeEqmTKUNT-2BVOWTMwMezT4jIRewEGmHCYugvekyLCYJ9XMXzEhMb1FM9ybZxiBHYylEEukFbdOZo-3D),
commented:

> “It’s fantastic to see so many charities coming together in our biggest campaign
> yet. Charities are faced with increasingly stretched resources in an ever more
> challenging fundraising environment. By working together in a collaborative drive
> to boost funds at such a peak time for giving, the Christmas Challenge is a great
> opportunity to amplify appeals and of course to double their returns.”

The Christmas Challenge is now in its 12^(th) year and was founded by entrepreneur
and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE to inspire charitable giving. To date, the 
Big Give has helped to raise over £113 million for UK registered charities.

 * **[One month left to apply for Big Give Christmas Challenge](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/06/05/one-month-left-apply-for-big-give-christmas-challenge-open/)**(
   5 June 2020)
 * **[Four matched giving campaigns by small charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/10/18/four-matched-giving-campaigns-by-small-charities/)**(
   18 October 2021)
 * **[Big Give Christmas Challenge open for applications](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/05/18/big-give-christmas-challenge-open-for-applications/)**(
   18 May 2022)