The UK’s biggest match funding campaign

Date: 04 Dec 2024

Karen Jones

Big Give’s Christmas Challenge, the UK’s largest-ever match funding campaign. Running from 3rd to 10th December 2024, coinciding with Giving Tuesday, this week-long initiative aims to raise tens of millions of pounds for 1,250 charities by doubling public donations through match funding from Big Give’s Champion partners.

This year, Big Give has secured a record-breaking £20 million in match funds for the campaign, thanks to a range of generous Champions including, The Reed Foundation, Julia Rausing Trust, The Childhood Trust, The Hospital Saturday Fund, ShareGift, Steve Morgan Foundation, Candis Magazine, Hampshire Cricket Foundation, Aesseal, The Coles-Medlock Foundation and many others.

The campaign has also garnered celebrity support from notable names such as David Harewood (RADA), Peter Capaldi (Magic Breakfast), Sabrina Cohen-Hatton (StreetVet), Lemn Sissay (The Foundling Museum), and Izzy Judd (Future Talent), who are all lending their voices to encourage public participation. Media partners for the campaign this year include Hello! Magazine, JCDecaux and Clear Channel.

In 2023, the Christmas Challenge raised an impressive £33 million for 1,077 charities through over 94,000 public donations, with 74% of participants meeting or exceeding their fundraising goals. Success stories from the previous campaign highlight the transformative difference it makes:

“I have been driving Big Give campaigns for my charity for the past eight years, and once again, this has been time well spent with us hitting our ambitious target! I am grateful to everyone involved in donating and the brilliant staff at Big Give who have been unflagging in their support too.”

Philip Holmes, OBE Founder/CEO, Pipal Tree

Raised £100,113 in the 2023 Christmas Challenge

“We are extremely grateful that with your funding we have been able to offer adventure opportunities to 482 disabled children and young people, who have had access to an array of activities including climbing, canoeing, caving, and archery to name a few. From the feedback received so far this year: 76% of people noticed a significant or considerable increase in self-confidence and 82% felt significantly or considerably more included.”
Bendrigg Trust

Raised £81,025 in the 2023 Christmas Challenge

“The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 directly funded 1,000 nights in our ‘Homes from Home’, supporting 76 families with a seriously ill child in hospital. By providing families with Home from Home support we help to alleviate financial worries and help their mental wellbeing. 100% of families felt that staying in our Homes from Home share being close to their sick child helped their recovery. ”

The Sick Children’s Trust

Raised £37,394 in the 2023 Christmas Challenge

“We aimed to meet the essential needs of individuals by providing hot meals, warmth, clothes, shelter, and other necessities. Through our project, 1,123 visitors accessed our day centre over the Christmas period for food and essential support. Additionally, for those unable to visit, volunteers delivered over 200 hot meals and wellness hampers directly to their homes, extending our reach to isolated community members. We also facilitated food pantry distributions for struggling families, where we worked with local partners including Fareshare South West to repurpose over 5 tons of surplus food, saving it from landfill.”
Caring in Bristol

Raised £28,319 in the 2023 Christmas Challenge

Since its inception in 2007, Big Give has raised over £300 million for thousands of charities, with nearly half of the funds supporting small charities with annual incomes under £1 million. At a time when economic challenges and surging demand stretch resources, the funds raised through the Christmas Challenge are a

vital lifeline. By doubling public donations through match funding from Big Give Champions, the campaign maximises impact for both donors and charities alike.

James Reed, Chair of the Trustees of Big Give, said: “With a record level of match funds provided by our Champion partners, we’re calling on the amazingly generous British public to help make this our most impactful campaign yet. When people give to us they are not giving to Big Give, they are giving through Big Give to charitable causes they really care about, and this year there are 1,250 charities that stand to benefit. Every donation will be doubled so you can double the difference you make.”

Deborah Meaden, ambassador and trustee for Tusk, said: “By being part of the brilliant Big Give Christmas Challenge any donations the public make to Tusk and the other charities taking part in the campaign will be matched and the on-the-ground impact will be doubled.  This will make a real difference to Tusk which partners with local projects in Africa to protect Africa’s forests which are under threat from deforestation and degradation.”

Claire Stanley, UK lead for Giving Tuesday, said: “Giving Tuesday is about celebrating kindness and generosity in all its forms across the world, at a time when we need it most. Big Give’s Christmas Challenge will match donations made starting on Giving Tuesday, December 3, and December 10. This is an exceptionally generous campaign during what is a particularly challenging financial time for many charities. This Giving Tuesday we’re exploring all the wonderful ways you can get involved in charitable giving, from volunteering all the way through to leaving a legacy gift in your will – but if you are planning to make a donation, please check to see that your chosen cause is registered for Big Give’s Christmas Challenge and make sure to donate through the Big Give website to guarantee your donation is doubled.”

The Christmas Challenge runs until 12 noon on the 10th of December 2024. To double your donation and make double the difference this Christmas, visit: donate.biggive.org/christmas-challenge-2024.

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