Corporate Giving Programmes That Connect Businesses with Small Charities
A fully managed corporate giving programme that involves your employees, connects your team with grassroots charities, and delivers a real, reportable social impact story.
For 15 years, we’ve worked on both sides of the giving equation – inside socially responsible businesses and alongside grassroots charities. We’ve seen the same problem from both angles.
Businesses want to support brilliant small charities. However, they often lack the time or expertise to manage due diligence and grant relationships confidently. Charities want to build genuine business partnerships, but they rarely have the resource to manage them. As a result, there is a lot of missed potential on both sides.
That gap is why we created the Grants for Good programme. We manage the entire process for you. So you can fund high-impact charities, build meaningful relationships, and tell credible community impact stories – the kind businesses increasingly need to stay competitive.
Why work with us?
Free to Your Business
Our programme is completely free to run. There’s no platform fee and no management charge, so 100% of your funding goes directly to charities, not costs. This means your full budget creates real, measurable impact, not overheads.
Employee Engagement
Grants for Good places employees at the heart of your corporate giving activity, from shortlisting causes to choosing which charities receive funding. It’s a great way to build pride, purpose and loyalty, at a time when staff increasingly favour socially conscious employers.
Experience and expertise
Our experienced team conducts due diligence on every applicant we shortlist. They identify high impact causes that align with your values, so you can give with confidence and less risk. We’re people-driven, not platform-driven like many modern solutions, so you benefit directly from our expertise.
Measurable, reportable impact
We provide clear activity reporting and impact monitoring, giving you a model you can genuinely measure and share with stakeholders. As supply chains face greater scrutiny, this is becoming a valuable part of sales and bids, even for smaller companies.
Flexible and scalable
Start with a one-year trial, then choose to continue for longer, or apply what you’ve learned to future giving elsewhere. The model adapts to your goals and budget, not the other way around. So, you’re never locked into more than you’re ready for.
Visibility and recognition
Your brand will feature on our website, giving you the kind of visibility small charities often can’t offer businesses directly. Previous partners have featured in local media, and this kind of activity can support accreditations and industry award applications too.
How we help businesses give back
The Grants for Good model is a flexible giving programme. It creates personal connections, engages employees in decision-making, and empowers small charity leaders, all while enhancing your ESG credentials.
Developed over five years, Grants for Good is a tried and tested model. It empowers employees to champion the causes they care about, and fits seamlessly into your business’s social impact agenda. So, you can create meaningful local impact, without managing the giving process yourself.
Since launch, Grants for Good has attracted attention from small grassroots charities nationally. In fact, in our first five year we received over 9,000 applications, many of them high quality. Yet we were able to fund less than 2% of them with grants.
That gap is exactly why we’re inviting other businesses to partner with us.
Together, we can support many more of the high-quality causes we know are out there.
Phase 1: Discovery & Launch
We’ll get to know you, then work with you to design and launch your programme.
Discovery
We’ll get to know you and your employees. Together, we’ll explore the causes you’d like to fund, why they matter to you, and when you’d like to begin. You might want to focus on a particular region, or themes that align with your business values. We’ll build your programme with that in mind.
Programme Build
A full Grants for Good round costs £15,000, funding five grants. You can run one round a year, or up to four. If £15,000 is more than you’re ready for right now, talk to us – we’re always happy to discuss options.
Launch
We’ll work with you to launch your funding concept to your teams. We’ll also help you select an employee panel, if you’d like one. From this point, your partnership goes live on our website with its own page. We’ll build on this page throughout your programme.
Phase 2 – Funding Round(s)
However many rounds you choose to run, this is the process for each one.
Step 1: Shortlist Selection
We’ll assess applications and carry out initial due diligence. Then, we’ll provide you with a shortlist of up to 15 potential finalists.
Step 2: Panel Finalist Selection
Next, we’ll work with your panel to select five finalists. We’ll then complete final due diligence and prepare all content for employee voting. This includes further brand exposure through charity content on our website, featuring your brand.
Step 3: Employee Engagement
We’ll help you launch the employee vote, which determines how your funds are distributed. Once all votes are in, we’ll reveal the results. We award £5,000 for first place, £3,500 for second, £2,500 for third, and £2,000 each for fourth and fifth.
Step 4: Meeting The Causes
Once funds are awarded, we’ll help organise visits. This means you and your employees can see the difference you’re making, first-hand. These personal interactions often lead to deeper relationships, such as pro-bono work or ongoing volunteering.
Phase 3: Activity Report
We’ll prepare a tailored activity report and supporting communications, highlighting the difference your fund has made. You can share this with your stakeholders and employees, using our comms support throughout.
Ready to make a bigger impact?
Let’s talk about how a Grants for Good partnership could work for your business – no obligation, just a conversation.
Small charities, bigger impact
Small charities make up 96% of the UK charity sector, yet receive just 16% of its total income (NCVO 2024). That’s not just a funding gap. It’s a visibility gap too.
Grassroots organisations are often closest to the communities they serve. Many are founded by people with direct, lived experience of the issues they tackle. Because of this, they can spot emerging needs early and respond quickly. This means your funding goes further. Lower overheads mean more of every pound reaches the communities and places where it’s needed most.
That’s a benefit that reaches your own staff too. Employees who see their company support a cause that feels relevant to them, rather than a large national campaign, tend to feel a stronger personal connection to it.
Latest Grants for Good Recipients
To help you get an idea of the types of non-profits that Grants for Good supports here are the latest organisations to receive a grant through one of our partners.
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
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
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
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.
YOPEY
YOPEY is a small charity in the East of England that tackles two problems at once: loneliness among care home residents living with dementia, and negative stereotypes of teenagers. It trains young volunteers aged 14 to 19 to visit residents weekly, offering conversation, music and shared activities. Residents build
Emmie’s Kitchen
Emmie's Kitchen supports parents and carers of seriously ill children at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Founded from lived experience, the charity provides free meals, snack bags, and wellbeing sessions to families facing some of the hardest moments of their lives. With around 100 meals and 80 snack bags delivered
Billy & Beyond
Billy & Beyond CIC delivers free drug education workshops in schools, youth groups, and community settings. Founded after the tragic loss of Billy Mullin in 2020, the organisation educates young people about the real risks of recreational drug use. Through interactive sessions, real-life stories, and a powerful animated film,
Kinship Carers
Kinship Carers is a national charity supporting families where children are raised by relatives or close family friends instead of their parents. Operating UK-wide, the charity provides practical advice, emotional support, advocacy and peer connection to kinship carers navigating complex legal, financial and social care systems. Kinship care is
Wild Plant Paper
Wild Plant Paper CIC is a Wales-based social enterprise making handmade paper. Founded by botanist Dr Bryan Collis, they turn invasive weeds and waste materials into beautiful handmade paper, while creating flexible, inclusive work and volunteering opportunities for people excluded from traditional employment. From their converted shipping container studio
Breaker Breaker
Lorry drivers and transport workers keep the country moving, yet for many the road is hard and lonely, and too often they reach crisis point before asking for help. Breaker Breaker is a mental health charity in Northern Ireland dedicated to the haulage industry, founded after Leanne Lyons lost
Fight Forward
Domestic abuse affects 1.7 million women in the UK each year, leaving long-lasting emotional, psychological, and physical scars. For many survivors, traditional therapy alone isn’t enough to rebuild confidence, reconnect with their bodies, or overcome trauma-related anxiety, disassociation, and isolation. Fight Forward was founded to change that. Created by
The Civet Project
The Civet Project is a UK-based conservation charity protecting civets, a small cat-like carnivore found in Asia, their habitats, and the people who share these environments. They tackle the cruel and risky trade driven by “civet coffee,” a luxury drink made from civets’ droppings. Through research, education, and community
Ella Support Loop
Founded by SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) parents, Ella Support Loop is a newly launched, UK-based CIC. They use innovative, AI-powered technology to make SEND guidance clearer and more accessible for families. Co-created with parents, educators, charities, and local authorities, Ella delivers trusted, localised information that simplifies complex
Unseen Victims
Unseen Victims CIC is a UK-based, community-led organisation supporting families affected by a loved-one’s arrest, imprisonment, or interaction with the criminal justice system. They provide emotional support, practical guidance, and advocacy, helping families navigate stigma and isolation. Through peer support networks, national awareness campaigns, and a new employer workshop,
OncoMove
OncoMove CIC is a new London-based initiative providing free, clinically guided cancer rehabilitation through accessible online exercise programmes. Founded to address major inequalities in cancer recovery, OncoMove supports people who face barriers to traditional services, including fatigue, immune suppression, mobility issues, or lack of transport. With pilots now underway
Impact in numbers
Real impact, and so much more potential still to fund.
£'s Granted to charities over 15 years
Causes Supported over 15 years
£'s awarded via Grants for Good
charities supported via Grants for Good
Grants for Good applications received
£'s Granted to charities over 15 years
Causes Supported over 15 years
£'s awarded via Grants for Good
charities supported via Grants for Good
Grants for Good applications received
Ready to make a bigger impact?
Let’s talk about how a Grants for Good partnership could work for your business – no obligation, just a conversation.
Case Study – John Good Group
We’ve been managing John Good Group’s corporate giving programme since 2011. It’s a bespoke programme that engages its employees in many ways and directs the majority of funds to small charities.
As well as supporting the company in achieving its ESG aims, John Good Group reports that its charitable giving programme helps with employee engagement, recruitment and retention of top talent, customer acquisition and loyalty and is a great way of seeing their values in action. Giving employees the opportunity to meet with and engage directly with the charities they support is incredibly rewarding for all involved.
Employee Giving
- Monthly Draws
- Doubling employee donations
- Tripling employee fundraising efforts
Grassroots Project Support
- Grants for small non-profits employees nominate
- Support for employees starting or scaling their own grassroots community projects
Grants for Good
- 15,000 shared between 5 micro charities every quarter
- Employees vote to decide funding distribution.
Employee Volunteering
- Unskilled and skilled employee volunteering programme. We source one-off volunteering opportunities that suit the employees’ interests to make it easy for employees to use their volunteer days.
Company pro-bono/discounted work
- Putting the skills within the business to good use
Business Insights
Read our latest commentry below, and follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date
More meaningful giving: An employee giving case study
A recent employee giving application has demonstrated how the Matthew Good Foundation helps the John Good Group to increase their community impact, not just by issuing grants, but by leveraging the Foundation’s network & expertise to deliver higher value outcomes, for employees, charities, and businesses alike.
96% of Charities Get 16% of the Money. How Business ESG Strategy Can Help.
Thousands of small charities are making a huge difference in communities every day, yet they make up 96% of the sector but receive just 16% of its income. The gap isn't just about money, and businesses have a real role to play in closing it.
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.
Not a business, or not ready to partner?
If you’re an individual, or your business isn’t ready for a full partnership, you can still support small charities directly. 100% of donations go straight to funding grants or charity films, with none lost to admin costs. Visit our donations page to give, or get in touch to discuss a donor-managed fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a corporate giving programme?
A corporate giving programme is a structured way for businesses to support charitable causes. It often involves employees in decision-making, with clear reporting on the impact made. Rather than a one-off donation, it’s an ongoing partnership.
How is a Grants for Good partnership different from a corporate donation?
A one-off donation is a single payment to a cause of your choosing. A Grants for Good partnership is different: it’s a fully managed programme. We handle charity sourcing, due diligence, employee involvement, and reporting. So, your funding creates a structured, measurable impact, rather than a single transaction.
Can my business get tax relief on charitable giving, and how does this work with Grants for Good?
Every business’s tax position is different, so we always recommend speaking to your accountant. What we can tell you is how the payment itself works. You pay your contribution to the Matthew Good Foundation, a registered charity, as a single donation on the date you pay us. This is what should appear in your accounts, rather than the dates we later distribute individual grants to charities.
What is employee giving, and how does Grants for Good use it?
Employee giving is any way a business enables its staff to support charitable causes. You can do this in a wide range of ways: matching donations, supporting fundraising, arranging volunteering or, in the case of Grants for Good, playing a direct part in decision-making. This means employees help shortlist finalists and vote on which charities receive funding.
Why is Grants for Good free for us to offer?
The Matthew Good Foundation is an independent UK-registered charity. Funds raised elsewhere already cover our core running costs, so we can run this programme at no cost to your business. Every penny of your contribution goes to the small charities you’re supporting, not to fees. It also means there’s no extra financial barrier stopping you from taking the first step.
How much does a Grants for Good partnership cost?
A full funding round costs £15,000, and funds five grants to shortlisted charities. You can run one round a year, or up to four. If £15,000 is more than you’re ready for right now, talk to us. We’re always happy to discuss options, and would rather have the conversation than see a great business miss out.
How much control do we have over which charities we fund?
You can have as much control as you like, within the limits of the applications we receive. For example, previous partners have chosen to limit applications by location, or by cause types that matter most to their business. With your programme aims in mind, we handle the due diligence and initial shortlisting. From there, your employee panel narrows the shortlist from 15 down to 5. Finally, all of your employees vote to decide which charities receive funding.
What do the charities we support go through to be considered?
Every charity that applies goes through the same rigorous process. This includes an initial review, due diligence, shortlisting, and an interview, usually by video call. We also take up references before your employee vote. You can see the full guide for charities on our Grants for Good applications page. Charities fill in an applicaiton form – that you may wish to read.
Do we need a dedicated team to manage this?
No. We manage the entire programme for you, from due diligence through to reporting, so it fits easily alongside your existing workload. If you have a bigger team who want to get involved in internal comms and marketing, that’s great too. We’re used to working with businesses’ central service teams. But we can manage the whole process with as little as one main contact at your business.