Among The Charity Awards shortlist announced on Tuesday 7 May is an electronic charity box, which offers people the option to add a small donation when paying by card either by rounding up their bill to the nearest pound or by adding a fixed amount of pennies. The Charity Awards are one of the sector’s most prestigious schemes, and the 2013 winners will be announced on 13 June.
Pennies, the electronic charity box, has been shortlisted from hundreds of entries in the ‘Grantmaking and funding’ category alongside just two other charities. Since being introduced onto Domino’s Pizza’s website in 2010 Pennies is now widely available on the high street, online, via mobile and even in charity shops. With over £1.2m already raised from 5 million donations, Pennies has proved that small change donations can be brought up-to-date and is appealing to a new segment of donors that traditional methods of fundraising might not have reached. One retailer, The Entertainer, raised more for its charity partner through Pennies in the first week alone than it does in a whole year from traditional collection boxes.
With 43 million cardholders in the UK generating nine billion card transactions every year the potential is huge. If every cardholder donated just 30p once a month Pennies believes it could raise over £150m every year and further transform giving in the UK.
And the winner is …
Pennies is hoping to pick up the coveted award for its electronic charity box at a glittering ceremony in London on 13 June. If it wins its category it will also be in the running to pick up the Overall Award for Excellence, which is selected from the 10 category winners.
The Charity Awards is the highest profile event in the charity calendar. All 30 shortlisted charities this year have been judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated outstanding best practice from which other organisations can learn.
Alison Hutchinson, CEO of Pennies comments:
“We’re delighted to have made it to the last three in this category of the Charity Awards. We think the potential of ‘electronic spare change’ is very exciting and for Pennies to be recognised by the sector this way is a real boost. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed on the night!”
Daniel Phelan, organiser of The Charity Awards comments:
“In being shortlisted The Pennies Foundation has demonstrated exceptional performance against as many of the ten hallmarks of excellence as possible. I wish them the best of luck on the night.”
John Low, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation, overall sponsors of the Charity Awards, comments:
“I would like to congratulate and commend all the shortlisted charities this year, as well as everyone who took the time to submit an application. Once again the calibre of entries was very impressive – at a time when the sector, indeed the country, is under such financial pressure, The Charity Awards gives us all the opportunity to step back, reflect and be inspired.”
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