Supporting small charitable organisations to amplify their impact
We work with a range of businesses, stakeholders and individuals, partnering them with small, innovative non-profits to deliver positive social impact.
Donated in 2024
Donated since 2011
Causes Supported
Race Ready
Free medical advice for runners
Spurn Nature Reserve
Habitat conservation, restoration, and education.
Walking 4 Hope
Providing solace and support during challanging times
Outkast Panda Crew
Improving the lives of young adults.
Reef World
Helping to protect coral and marine environments.
Sailors' Children's Society
Dedicated to supporting children of seafarers
Donated in 2024
Donated since 2011
Causes Supported
Empowering Small Non-profits
Thousands of innovative local charities and non-profit organisations make a huge difference to society, yet many need help securing the funding and support they need to deliver the impact they are capable of.
With over a decade of harnessing the power of business to be a force for good, we make it easy for a company to find and fund small charities and not-for-profits in a meaningful way by delivering flexible charitable giving programmes that create personal connections, engage employees in decision making and empower small non-profit leaders.
Some of the good causes we have supported
Empowering Small Non-profits
Our experience of working closely with small charitable organisations has highlighted that despite making a significant impact on the world around them, there is a funding gap that can be difficult for them to bridge as they take their next steps to growth.
Our range of support packages target unrestricted funding at small organisations, but we also make sure that we are helpful to work with, keeping things as simple, easy and supportive as possible for funding applicants who are often working alongside their day-job, in a voluntary role, or new to funding applications.
More Meaningful Giving
We partner with businesses who have a genuine desire to make a difference to people, planet, and their communities. Our tailored charitable giving programmes accommodate different needs and budgets, and we tailor our packages to deliver our partners’ unique charitable objectives.
Our Business Partners
Latest
impacts at home and abroad
Ocean Buffer Project
Ocean Buffer Project is a community-led environmental group in Cornwall. Volunteers grow marine microalgae in small, off-grid "mini ocean" systems, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows. They also build the tanks and monitor the algae, turning ocean science into something anyone can take part in. In addition, the project is now expanding into a native plant nursery to help restore biodiversity and protect Cornwall's coastline.
Guardians UK
Guardians UK is a woodland charity working in Southeast London, West Sussex and Ceredigion, Wales. It grows native trees, trains people to care for threatened forests and brings volunteers together to plant them. Its Ceredigion site is turning a Sitka spruce plantation into native woodland. In autumn 2026, the charity plans to plant around 2,000 native trees in Wales, its biggest planting so far.
LionAid
LionAid is a small UK charity working to protect wild lions in Africa. In the Amboseli area of Kenya, it helps Maasai communities keep livestock safe from lions using solar lights and a shared "insurance herd". Since the project began in 2022, LionAid reports that no lions have been killed in retaliation in the project area. Lions are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the global Red List of threatened species, so every one saved matters.
Cotswolds Rivers Trust
Cotswolds Rivers Trust is a small charity working to protect and restore rivers across the Cotswolds, including the upper Thames. Through its Streamlining the Infant Thames project, local people learn to test water quality and spot signs of pollution. Around 20 volunteers along the river now help track its health. Their work aims to keep the river healthier through dry summers and wet winters, while protecting wildlife and reducing flood risk.
Caithness Seal Rehab & Release
Caithness Seal Rehab & Release is a volunteer-run seal hospital in the far north of Scotland. It rescues sick, injured and abandoned grey and common seal pups, cares for them and returns them to the sea. Since opening in 2022, the team has rescued 130 pups and released 121 back into the wild. Now, a pup born at the hospital is expected to become Scotland's first rehabilitated seal to carry a satellite tag.
Hornsea First Aid Centre
Hornsea First Aid Centre was born out of necessity in 2018, when the town lost its Minor Injuries Unit. What started as a portacabin staffed by volunteers has grown into a vital community service, treating hundreds of patients a year and supporting local events across Hornsea.
The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance
The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance supports people recovering from breast cancer, BRCA-related surgery, or gender-affirming surgery. Founded by tattoo artist Tanya Buxton in Cheltenham 2021, MTA helps people access high-quality areola and mastectomy tattoos. It does this through a voucher scheme and a growing network of vetted artists across the country, helping people rebuild confidence and identity after surgery.
The MoneyHeave Community Project
The MoneyHeave Community Project is a grassroots organisation helping young adults and underrepresented communities take control of their finances. Founded by finance professional Roneish Myers, MoneyHeave runs practical workshops on budgeting, debt and saving. These sessions build skills and confidence in places where financial advice is often out of reach. Two in three young adults lack confidence managing money, so MoneyHeave is working to change that, one workshop at a time.
Recycle-IT!
Recycle-IT! is a community interest company based in Bolton, tackling digital exclusion and e-waste by collecting, refurbishing and redistributing IT equipment to people and community groups who need it most. Since launching, the organisation has diverted over 270 tonnes of e-waste from landfill, redistributed more than 3,500 devices, and given dozens of volunteers valuable training and new skills along the way.
Otterhead Estate Trust
Otterhead is an off-grid nature reserve on the Somerset/Devon border, south of Taunton, freely open to the public. The Otterhead Estate Trust manages much of the site, maximising biodiversity and wildlife habitats, while restoring heritage features. The Forest School, based at the Coach House, supports children with complex needs. Their zero-carbon electricity is now generated from a micro hydro-electric turbine, but beavers are damming the water supply nightly, putting this hard-won progress at risk.
Ocean Buffer Project
Ocean Buffer Project is a community-led environmental group in Cornwall. Volunteers grow marine microalgae in small, off-grid "mini ocean" systems, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows. They also build the tanks and monitor the algae, turning ocean science into something anyone can take part in. In addition, the project is now expanding into a native plant nursery to help restore biodiversity and protect Cornwall's coastline.
Guardians UK
Guardians UK is a woodland charity working in Southeast London, West Sussex and Ceredigion, Wales. It grows native trees, trains people to care for threatened forests and brings volunteers together to plant them. Its Ceredigion site is turning a Sitka spruce plantation into native woodland. In autumn 2026, the charity plans to plant around 2,000 native trees in Wales, its biggest planting so far.
LionAid
LionAid is a small UK charity working to protect wild lions in Africa. In the Amboseli area of Kenya, it helps Maasai communities keep livestock safe from lions using solar lights and a shared "insurance herd". Since the project began in 2022, LionAid reports that no lions have been killed in retaliation in the project area. Lions are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the global Red List of threatened species, so every one saved matters.
Cotswolds Rivers Trust
Cotswolds Rivers Trust is a small charity working to protect and restore rivers across the Cotswolds, including the upper Thames. Through its Streamlining the Infant Thames project, local people learn to test water quality and spot signs of pollution. Around 20 volunteers along the river now help track its health. Their work aims to keep the river healthier through dry summers and wet winters, while protecting wildlife and reducing flood risk.
Caithness Seal Rehab & Release
Caithness Seal Rehab & Release is a volunteer-run seal hospital in the far north of Scotland. It rescues sick, injured and abandoned grey and common seal pups, cares for them and returns them to the sea. Since opening in 2022, the team has rescued 130 pups and released 121 back into the wild. Now, a pup born at the hospital is expected to become Scotland's first rehabilitated seal to carry a satellite tag.
Hornsea First Aid Centre
Hornsea First Aid Centre was born out of necessity in 2018, when the town lost its Minor Injuries Unit. What started as a portacabin staffed by volunteers has grown into a vital community service, treating hundreds of patients a year and supporting local events across Hornsea.
The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance
The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance supports people recovering from breast cancer, BRCA-related surgery, or gender-affirming surgery. Founded by tattoo artist Tanya Buxton in Cheltenham 2021, MTA helps people access high-quality areola and mastectomy tattoos. It does this through a voucher scheme and a growing network of vetted artists across the country, helping people rebuild confidence and identity after surgery.
The MoneyHeave Community Project
The MoneyHeave Community Project is a grassroots organisation helping young adults and underrepresented communities take control of their finances. Founded by finance professional Roneish Myers, MoneyHeave runs practical workshops on budgeting, debt and saving. These sessions build skills and confidence in places where financial advice is often out of reach. Two in three young adults lack confidence managing money, so MoneyHeave is working to change that, one workshop at a time.
Recycle-IT!
Recycle-IT! is a community interest company based in Bolton, tackling digital exclusion and e-waste by collecting, refurbishing and redistributing IT equipment to people and community groups who need it most. Since launching, the organisation has diverted over 270 tonnes of e-waste from landfill, redistributed more than 3,500 devices, and given dozens of volunteers valuable training and new skills along the way.
Otterhead Estate Trust
Otterhead is an off-grid nature reserve on the Somerset/Devon border, south of Taunton, freely open to the public. The Otterhead Estate Trust manages much of the site, maximising biodiversity and wildlife habitats, while restoring heritage features. The Forest School, based at the Coach House, supports children with complex needs. Their zero-carbon electricity is now generated from a micro hydro-electric turbine, but beavers are damming the water supply nightly, putting this hard-won progress at risk.
Bridge2Bridge Cycle Challenge Raises £50,088 for Sailors’ Children’s Society
Seventeen riders raised £50,088 for the Sailors’ Children’s Society, including five from John Good Group. Find out how £12,000 of Foundation funding helped their efforts go even further.
Bridge2Bridge Cycle Challenge Raises £50,088 for Sailors’ Children’s Society
Seventeen riders raised £50,088 for the Sailors' Children's Society, including five from John Good Group. Find out how £12,000 of Foundation funding helped their efforts go even further.
DAN Shipping and Arthur Smith Teams Help Get Clean Planet’s Boat Back on the Water
When Clean Planet's boat was out of the water, a group of DAN Shipping and Arthur Smith employees stepped in with £5,000 for repairs. Find out how a routine check-in led to a new connection.
Grants for Good: An Employee Giving Programme Your Team Will Actually Love
We surveyed over 100 employees across the John Good Group about Grants for Good - and the results speak for themselves. From genuine discovery to a 9.3 out of 10 recommendation score, here's what staff really think, and why it might be worth bringing to your own business.
15 Years of Business Giving: From Matthew’s Legacy to a New Chapter
Fifteen years since the Matthew Good Foundation was founded in memory of its co-founder, we're reflecting on what we've learned, not just about how far we've come, but about what small charities really need, how businesses can create bigger impact through giving, and why we're opening up our flagship Grants for Good programme to more partners.
How to Write a Grant Application: A Guide for Small Charities
Applying for funding can feel daunting, especially if it's your first time. That's why we've put together a simple guide to our Grants for Good application, breaking down what we're really looking for in each question. This guide is designed to help small non-profits put their best foot forward, without needing to write like a professional bid writer.
Grants for Good: John Good Group Awards £15,000 to Five Small Charities
Discover the latest Grants for Good winners! £15,000 in small charity grants awarded to UK non-profits making a real impact in 2026.
Small Charities, Bigger Returns: Why Businesses Should Support Small Charities
Supporting small charities doesn't just create community impact – it also strengthens employee engagement, builds trust and helps businesses deliver more authentic social impact. Discover why grassroots giving can deliver bigger returns for your business.
Matthew Good Foundation Reaches £2 Million Milestone
£2 million. It is a number worth pausing on - not because of what it says about us, but because of what it represents for the hundreds of small charities and community groups who have received that support since 2011. Here, we reflect on the journey, the people who made it possible, and what comes next.
Minorfern Foundation closes second year with £40,000 granted to eleven local charities.
The Minorfern Foundation has completed its second year of charitable giving, awarding £40,000 in unrestricted grants to eleven organisations across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. This brings the total distributed since the Foundation's launch in 2024 to £80,000 – supporting twenty-one organisations across the regions where SDL Car Parts operates.
Jamie Lewis MBE Recognised for Service to Communities
Congratulations to our Trustee Jamie Lewis MBE, recognised for his outstanding voluntary service across Yorkshire. Jamie's leadership - shaped by his own lived experience and a deep commitment to community - has strengthened the voluntary sector across the region and created opportunities for countless people.