“Speed-dating” funding platform launches to link small nonprofits with local businesses
Melanie May | 4 October 2021 | News
Online fundraising platform ActionFunder has launched today, with the aim of making it easier and quicker for firms to get funds to community grassroots activity.
ActionFunder is a virtual funding agent for community groups and small charities enabling them to pitch, just once, for consideration by many companies.
A four-month pilot phase has seen £500,000 committed by funders, with around 650 projects seeking support. So far, £200,000 has been distributed with an average grant size of around £2,500.
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Key features of the platform include the ability for applicant organisations to pitch for funding by either recording a short video, or going through a quick online process. Grantees are also supported to deliver real-time project updates and an end of project impact report to funders through the platform.
ActionFunder’s matching functionality helps businesses find relevant projects that meet their giving preferences, with attributes including geography and cause areas mapped according to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. A shortlisted project can choose whether or not to accept the funds and, if more than one funder selects them, which one to accept them from.
The cross-industry group of businesses includes Sir Robert McAlpine, South West Water, Argent Related (the firm behind Brent Cross Town, King’s Cross and Birmingham’s Brindleyplace developments), and law firm RW Blears, as well as SMEs.
ActionFunder will draw upon an existing register of charitable organisations put together by Semble, the B Corp that is behind the platform, and is seeking to attract both more charities and community organisations around the country, and more businesses.
Semble has provided support to more than 3,500 community projects since it was founded in 2008, and is led by CEO Amanda Horton Mastin, a former director of Comic Relief.
Law firm RW Blears has committed £20,000 to projects supporting education and young people through ActionFunder.
Roger Blears, senior partner of law firm RW Blears, said:
“We have been committed to causes which support the education of young people for a number of years now, but as a smaller firm we do not typically have either the time nor the expertise to deliver the level of outreach to communities that we would like to.
“Working with ActionFunder has meant that our grants should now find their way more efficiently to projects and make a longer-lasting impact. We’re very proud to be an anchor funder and look forward to raising and deploying ‘Fund II’ next year.”
Mark Shearer, Founder of ActionFunder, said:
“We are witnessing a new movement of community-centric companies – a modern manifestation of the values that drove the Rowntree and Cadbury businesses. ActionFunder is making corporate giving faster, more tangible and relevant to employees and customers. This is a win-win for communities and for business.”
Main image: Children at Bristol’s The APE Project, which is seeking funding through ActionFunder.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.