Four dads and a bright idea...

Four dads and a bright idea give schools and charities a regular income without asking anyone for a penny. “It’s like seeing a collection box for your favourite charity or your child’s school and putting in someone else’s money,” says Richard Morris. He’s the member of the quartet who manages the day

to day contact with beneficiaries and givers. Craig McKenzie is the technical brain, Jonathan Bayly handles finance and Mark Clark’s background is marketing.

They spent a year of Thursday nights in Bishop’s Stortford hatching TheGivingMachine, a better way of turning the commissions big companies pay for promoting their online shopping sites into charitable cash donations. The foursome have turned themselves into a non-profit organisation that provides a website linking would-be customers with all the major retailers, ranging from Harrods, to Tesco, to Directline car insurance.

Having launched TheGivingMachine last year year in the Bishop’s Stortford area, it is already supporting almost 500 schools and charities nationwide and donating thousands of pounds on behalf of its registered ‘givers’. Much of this rapid growth is thanks to the recommendations of its first users.  If your supporters buy on-line, they simply log on to www.thegivingmachine.co.uk first and choose their favourite schools or charities.

Then follow the link to more than 100 major retailers and buy from them as normal. When the retailer pays TheGivingMachine commission for generating business, this is passed on to the shopper’s chosen beneficiaries. This is usually between three and five per cent of the total amount spent by the ‘giver’ and is detailed on the website.

The four directors have put their own money and time into setting up the company. Only 25% of the total cash raised is retained to cover the cost of certain contracted work including website development, collection and distribution of funds. The aim is to provide a regular income for schools and charities. “I’ve wanted to be involved with something like this for some time,” says Richard. “When we started talking it over it was like four pieces of a jigsaw coming together.” Having been involved with his local day care centre and son's school he was only too aware of the need to keep funds coming in on a regular basis. But he also sees TheGivingMachine as a means of keeping schools and charities in the public eye and encouraging shoppers to feel part of a supportive community.

“It’s very easy to explain TheGivingMachine to our supporters. They love the idea of giving us extra money at no extra cost to them” says Suzanne, PTA member at St. Joseph's in Bishop’s Stortford. As Jonathan, the man who keeps on top of the financial side of the operation, said “The joy of this scheme is that schools and charities can receive money on a monthly basis without actually asking for cash. We’re simply tapping into shopping people intend to do anyway.” As well as individuals he is encouraged to see companies and the beneficiaries supported by the TheGivingMachine using its website to order supplies. “The more people sign up for different schools and charities, the more they will receive.

On average you would expect 100 active supporters to generate between £1,000 and £3,000 a year for their favourite organisations.” The only details the TheGivingMachine requires from customers using their site are name, e-mail address and chosen password. All buying transactions are made through the secure sites of major companies. The dream is to capture the commission for every pound spent on-line – and give it away. So whether you’re ordering presents, buying a book, insurance or a

lawnmower don’t forget to click on www.thegivingmachine.co.uk first and it doesn’t cost you a penny.

Richard Morris Craig McKenzie

Mark Clark Jonathan Bayly as seen by their children!!