UK’s largest environmental match funding campaign launches today

THE UK’s largest movement in collective environmental philanthropy went live at midday today, aiming to raise an ambitious £6m over seven days. Organised by Big Give, the UK’s most well-established match-funding charity, this campaign will support charities tackling environmental challenges both within the UK and overseas.

Running from April 18th to April 25th, the campaign aligns with the upcoming World Earth Day on April 22nd. 248 impactful environmental charities are participating, including prominent organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage, Friends of the Earth, Rewilding Britain and The Wildlife Trusts.

Thanks to the generous support from Big Give’s match funding ‘champions’, which include leading corporations, philanthropists, and foundations, public donations to participating charities will be doubled, doubling the difference of every contribution. Champions include People’s Postcode Lottery, The Garfield Weston Foundation and The Reed Foundation.

The campaign is run in partnership with sector experts, Environmental Funders Network, whose mission is to amplify financial support for environmental initiatives and enhance their overall impact. At a time when increasing the philanthropic capital flows to environmental organisations has never been more critical, the Green Match Fund is dedicated to empowering charities at the forefront of addressing pressing environmental challenges.

Recent events underscore the urgency of supporting environmental causes, such as the ongoing pressure on UK water regulators to act after evidence of potentially illegal activity by water companies discharging over 2,000 overflows of raw sewage into rivers and seas in 2023. The scale of this untreated waste discharge, totalling more than 3.6 million hours in 2023 alone, represents a staggering 105% increase from the previous year, making 2023 the worst year for stormwater pollution.

With a target of £6 million, the Green Match Fund aims to raise 50% more than the previous year, marking a significant leap forward for this vital campaign. Not only does Big Give multiply the impact of donations, but it also aims to shed light on urgent environmental issues and the importance of collective action to safeguard our planet.

The campaign is supported by Hello! Magazine, the JCDecaux Community Channel, and a range of high-profile supporters, including Chris Packham (Bat Conservation Trust), Stephen Fry (Rainforest Trust UK), Megan McCubbin (Helping Rhinos), Monty Don (Soil Association), Adjoa Andoh (Tree Aid), Lady Marina and Lady Amelia Windsor (Blue Marine Foundation), David Oakes (David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation), Kate Humble (Bees for Development), Ben Goldsmith (Conservation Collective), Peter Egan (Helping Rhinos) and Cel Spellman (Young People’s Trust For The Environment).

Some charities participating in the campaign shared an example of the positive impact achieved since their 2023 Green Match Fund projects:

Soil Association

“Over 60 farmers have increased their knowledge and confidence to explore agroforestry techniques on their own land. Practising agroforestry will bring the following benefits: Delivering on environmental commitments and integrating trees on farms to improve soil health, biodiversity and carbon capture. Improved soil health builds farm resilience to extreme weather (e.g., heavy rain or drought), and there are increasing requirements to practice nature-friendly farming to access financial support.”

The Manta Trust

“Thanks to our involvement in the Green Match Fund, we have held 9 marine conservation sessions with 200 participants, including 40 women and 30 young adults, we have delivered five marine education sessions in the school to over 90 students, and we have identified over 300 individual manta rays, of which 75% were new to the Maldives Manta Database (i.e. not sighted before).”

Rewilding Britain

“Rewilding Britain wants to see 30% of land and sea rewilding by 2030, including 5% core rewilding areas. The Green Match Fund campaign has been instrumental in developing relationships with new and existing supporters. We have been able to galvanise support and, importantly, extend our reach, capturing people’s interest and enthusiasm for the multiple benefits that rewilding can bring to nature and people. The Green Match Fund is a powerful way for us to double the impact of public donations.”

The Green Match Fund campaign page can be accessed here: https://donate.biggive.org/green-match-fund-2024.

James Reed CBE, Chair of Trustees for Big Give, said: 

“Every year, our Green Match Fund gets bigger and this week is no exception with our target of £6 million. As can be seen with daily headlines about environmental and ecology degradation in the UK and around the world, we need to act now and support the numerous charities that are tackling the challenges facing us all.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: 

“I’m so pleased that our players are supporting this year’s Green Match Fund, highlighting the urgent need to tackle a wide range of environmental challenges. It’s a great opportunity for many charities, focusing on everything from improving biodiversity to tackling pollution, to get the support they need for their important work.”

Chris Dooley, Head of Social Impact at JCDecaux UK, said:

“We are proud to support Big Give and the important Green Match Fund campaign that is raising awareness of the charities working hard to tackle environmental challenges around the world. The JCDecaux Community Channel was launched to open up access to Out-of-Home to communities and charitable initiatives, and I can’t wait to see the campaign out and about.”

Kate Humble, Bees for Development Patron, said:

“‘Bees work miracles! By pollinating crops, they provide us with some of the healthiest, most important elements of our diet. They make products from delicious honey, to wax for candles and furniture that can provide us with a good, sustainable livelihood. And they can also change lives. Bees for Development harnesses the wonderful properties of bees to alleviate poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities. With the charity’s help, bees provide work, income, and opportunity. The Green Match will enable Bees for Development to broaden its reach to work with people and nature to transform lives and protect vital habitats and biodiversity. All thanks to the miracle that is bees!”

Peter Egan, Helping Rhinos Patron, said:

“I am honoured to be Patron of Helping Rhinos, a wonderful charity who do fantastic work supporting rhino conservation in Africa. These magnificent animals are under terrible pressure to survive, and we need to do all we can to protect them. So, please do give what you can to Helping Rhinos’ new Big Give Green Match Fund campaign – where every pound you give will be doubled – to fund innovative tracking technology to keep these extraordinary rhinos safe.”