Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)

Fraudsters often try to trick people by pretending to be an organisation or a person you know in their scams. We are aware that CAF’s name is being used in a potential ‘advance fee scam’. Fraudsters are contacting people saying they have been chosen for a grant and will be provided with a ‘prepaid’ Visa Card. This is offered only after a payment is made for a cross border settlement and fee. Please note that at CAF, we do not issue pre-paid Visa Cards, ask for fees to be paid for sending money, or grant to individuals. For more tips on spotting scams for you and your organisation: https://lnkd.in/edJf9JxJ If you see a scam that mentions CAF, you can let us know at: scamreporting@cafonline.org

Charities are the backbone of society, experts in serving communities and innovating to deliver great social impact. But they have been through tough times. This new government needs a fresh approach to working in partnership with civil society – so it thrives and not just survives. A central enabler for this is a strategy to unlock greater philanthropy and social investment across the UK #ukgeneralelection #ukelection2024

We're delighted to announce the first of our #C1stConference speakers: Ben Jowitt from Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)! Ben will be presenting on Building Diverse Income Streams. Ben has been providing support to a wide range of charities and not-for-profit organisations with CAF Bank since 2015. He has over 10 years’ experience working exclusively with charities, and previously worked in retail and commercial banking for 25 years. Before joining CAF Bank, he worked for a firm that designed and implemented the application and monitoring processes for grant-making organisations. Ben has helped clients do more with their funds – by maximising the return they receive on cash surpluses and increasing income by looking at different methods of fundraising. He loves the steps involved with this; the process of meeting such a wide variety of people, all highly-motivated to do the very best for their charity. Read more and register your attendance for Tuesday 16 July via the link in our comments.

For small charities, attracting corporate partners can be a game-changer. Our team of Charity Advisors know what it takes to secure these partnerships so we’re sharing a few tips to help you become more competitive: 1️⃣ You don’t have to be a huge charity - Corporates are shifting from the ‘one charity partner for three years’ approach to supporting multiple charities that align with different strategic goals. - Try to identify organisations whose goals you can help deliver on. 2️⃣ Leverage your network - Your supporters can be your biggest advocates. - Encourage them to engage with your charity within their workplaces. 3️⃣ Be clear about your needs - Define exactly what type of support you require from a corporate partner. - Consider needs beyond just financial aid, such as technical support or volunteer expertise. 4️⃣ Focus on Return on Investment (ROI) - Ensure that your partnership activities provide substantial value to your charity. - Be strategic about the activities you offer to corporates, ensuring they align with your mission and deliver real benefits. #CharityPartnership #CorporatePartnerships #Charities

Really enjoyed taking part in the US Philanthropy panel today at Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention 2024! Thanks to our moderator Stacey Lavery (MCIOF) and fellow panellists Eelco Keij & Dominic Haddock for a fun session. We discussed what UK charities need to be aware of when starting to fundraise in the US market, and I was pleased to talk about CAF America Friends Funds, which enable UK charities to receive US tax deductible gifts from their US donors. We also touched on Foundations, Donor Advised Funds, non cash gifts and the key cultural differences. Really good questions from the audience, thanks to everyone for taking part! #philanthropy #fundraising Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)

One of our dedicated clients is making an impact by funding innovative forest protection efforts through their CAF Charitable Trust - a flexible, secure, and tax-effective way to manage long-term giving 🌍 Recognising the crucial role of Indigenous knowledge to address climate change and reverse biodiversity decline, our client made a sizeable donation to the Pachamama Alliance. This charity works with Indigenous people in the Amazon to amplify their voices and support Amazon Sacred Headwaters, an alliance of 30 Indigenous nations dedicated to protecting 86 million acres of diverse tropical rainforest in Ecuador and Peru. CAF made sure the donation complied with international regulations and would deliver maximum impact. These funds will be used to: ➡️ Strengthen their innovative approach to Indigenous-led forest protection. ➡️ Support during emergencies. ➡️ Empower local communities through leadership schools, bioeconomy projects, women empowerment workshops and public health initiatives. Learn more about this project: https://lnkd.in/eVte9mdm

Many charity funders focus too much on buying ‘charity impact’. It's time to start supporting charities in a meaningful way and invest in their future. When charities are facing significant pressures, how can funders help? 1️⃣ Prioritise Unrestricted Funding Core costs for charities are rising, and concerningly our research shows around 50% are using their reserves to meet these. Unrestricted funding allows them to allocate resources where they are most needed to ensure their charity’s survival. 2️⃣ Help Charities to Plan Only 1/3 of charities feel their current funding is secure. Providing multi-year unrestricted funding can help charities become more resilient and plan for the future with confidence. 3️⃣ Consider the Effects of Inflation Unlike businesses, charities cannot pass on increased costs to customers. It is therefore helpful to consider increasing grants to allow for these pressures. 4️⃣ Target Needs and Cause Areas Reassess your giving strategy to ensure funds are going where they’re needed most, especially for underfunded issues like homelessness, food poverty, mental health, and debt support. 5️⃣ Be Flexible as Funders Charities need more financial support. This could be in the form of grants or social investment loans and blended finance packages. These provide affordable, flexible funding to help them continue activities, stabilise, and plan for growth. Our experience shows that with the right support, charities can become more resilient. Making sure charities are supported effectively means that they can do even more for the people and communities they serve. #CharityFunding #CharityGrants #Grantmaking #GrantFunding

Our Private Client Services team recently hosted a session for STEP – Advising Families Across Generations West of England members, specialists in family inheritance and succession planning. The session aimed to build confidence and knowledge among practitioners to help them discuss philanthropy and legacy planning with their clients. At CAF, we are dedicated to fostering impactful giving and empowering advisers to help clients achieve their long-term charitable goals. Learn more about how we support professional advisers: https://lnkd.in/eYMt4N7f #PhilanthropyAdvice #PhilanthropyAdvisors #FamilyOffice #PrivateClient #Philanthropy

We're excited to lead this workshop on designing and implementing ambitious corporate giving programs at The Crowd's #PurposeFest2024! Our session will cover best practices, building a strong business case for increasing budgets, integrating giving into the business, and achieving effective impact 🌟

We are thrilled to have been awarded the Best Initiative or Program (Global Reach) in the Not-For-Profit, Foundations & Trust category at the WealthBriefing Wealth For Good Awards 2024 🏆 The judges praised our innovative and impactful philanthropic services, highlighting our dedication to helping clients maximise their giving. From bespoke philanthropic guidance and cross-border giving to pioneering social investment initiatives, our team’s technical excellence helped set us apart. A huge congratulations to the team for this well-deserved recognition 👏 Pictured L-R: Ashling Cashmore, Mark Greer and Caroline Jones #WealthForGood #Philanthropy #CAF