Fintech charity Pennies has attracted 40 leaders from across retail, hospitality, payment, technology to help accelerate and strengthen the ubiquity of its pioneering micro-donation movement.
Members include leaders from the British Retail Consortium, UKHospitality, The Very Group, Hello Fresh, Nando’s, Greene King, Adnams, Worldpay from FIS, UK Finance, and Natwest Group. Pennies was advised by the MBS Group on a pro-bono basis in making advisory board appointments.
Over the last decade Pennies has revolutionised digital customer giving, meeting the demands of consumers moving away from cash and embracing digital – and proving a seamless way to donate to charity when making a purchase by card and digital wallet.
Retail veteran and non-executive Director, Angela Luger chairs the retail and services group and said,
“The retail sector has been pivotal to the adoption and success of Pennies, helping to unlock over 125million micro-donations which has transformed individuals’ lives and communities across the UK, yet Pennies is possibly one of the best kept secrets in our industry. This voluntary income is more vital now than ever as charities face a decrease in donations, but a greater demand on their services post-pandemic.
“The new Retail and Services Advisory Board that I have the honour of chairing, aims to support the continued growth of pennies as we work towards our audacious goal to raise £1bn per year in micro-donations’ for UK charities. We cannot wait to get started.”
Andy Wood, CEO at Adnams, chairs the hospitality group and said,
“The hospitality industry has long embraced Pennies, and our collective customers have contributed hugely to the 125million donations already made. These generous gifts have transformed real people’s lives and communities across the UK.
“Now hospitality is returning more fully from the pandemic, we know consumers will continue to give in huge numbers – at an absolutely vital time for charities who are delivering essential services against a backdrop of falling funding overall.
“The new Hospitality Advisory Board that I have the honour of chairing, aims to raise awareness of the industry’s “best kept secret”, and we ambitiously hope to realise micro-donations’ potential to raise £1bn a year for UK charities.”
Peter Ayliffe former President and Chief Executive Officer of Visa Europe and a trustee of Pennies, chairs the Payments group and said,
“The payments and financial technology sectors have proven absolutely pivotal to the success and growth of Pennies, and we are the pleased the industry has come together to help unlock this charitable movement which is increasingly becoming the industry standard having already received over 125 million micro-donations across a broad range of retail and hospitality brands.
“Charities are facing huge challenges, delivering on their programs and services against a backdrop of a decrease in funding. The Advisory Board is helping Pennies become fully embedded across all omni-retailing technologies and providers – making it even easier for more retailers to join the movement and support the growth of micro-donations and the charities brands want to support. We want Pennies to go from “best kept secret” to being the ubiquitous way for consumers to simply give a little, when and where they want when making a payment.”
Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies said,
“We are thrilled and overwhelmed by the support from the retail industry, stepping forward to unlock even faster growth of this fantastic movement that has raised over £30M for 750+ charities – which for us is really just the start. Our success so far belongs to the millions of people who have given their digital spare change when shopping – and our next challenge is to ensure every consumer is able to do just that, no matter the environment in-store, online or in-app. There is a great deal to do together.”
Pennies is an award-winning fintech charity with an important mission to protect and grow micro-donations – ensuring the public has digital ways to keep donating the small amounts of money that are so vital for charitable causes. Because micro-donations matter, now more than ever.
Find out more:
For more information contact rob.dyson@pennies.org.uk, Head of PR and Communications at Pennies.
About Pennies
Pennies is charity at the cutting edge of fintech, putting social purpose at the heart of business – working with some of the biggest UK brands in retail, hospitality and the paytech industry.
Pennies’ ‘digital charity box’ gives customers paying by card, digital wallet and emerging payment channels, a convenient way to add a small donation to their purchase when shopping with participating retailers. Whether in-store, online and in-app, it’s a simple, affordable, data-free way to donate, with 100% of funds raised going to charity.
Pennies has enabled over 125 million micro-donations, raising millions of pounds in much-needed additional income for charities in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Together, payment providers, retailers and their customers are helping hundreds of charities make a meaningful difference to the causes and communities they serve. There is an estimated annual £1bn opportunity for digital micro-donations for the UK charity sector, if every card holder gave as little as 35p a week. Because micro-donations matter, now more than ever.
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