The Giving Network

Home > The Giving Network

Give and network with your peers from as little as £30 a month

Together we can change lives

The Giving Network at the Community Foundation is here to help you make a difference on your doorstep. It’s for like-minded professionals to come together, pool their giving, learn about vital issues in communities and choose causes to support. From housing homeless people, to welcoming refugees; from clubs for isolated older people to community arts festivals – we connect you with the vital groups on the ground which have a low profile but a big impact.

Feel inspired by the causes you support

You can join the Giving Network for as little as £30 a month. And as a special incentive, for the first three years, we are matching gifts £1-for-£1, meaning you can double your contribution.

Frequently asked questions

How does it work?

Members of The Giving Network donate a minimum of £30 per month into a fund at the Community Foundation. We then double your donation £1-for-£1 for the first three years (up to a maximum of £1,000 per year).

What can you support?

The Community Foundation’s Vital Signs research has shown that priority issues for our area in the immediate future are Diversity & Inclusion, Mental Health & Well-being and Poverty.

Giving Network members vote on their top 4 charities each year from a long-list of 9 that are trusted organisations doing brilliant work within the Vital Signs priority issues. Members can then choose how to allocate their share of the funding pot amongst the final four charities, and over previous years the following have been supported:

2019 – Apna Ghar (South Shields); Cedarwood Trust (North Tyneside); Gateshead Older People’s Assembly (Gateshead borough); Washington MIND (Washington & Sunderland)

2020 – Gateway into the Community (West Northumberland); Fightback (Sunderland); Family Gateway (North and South Tyneside); Young Women’s Outreach Project (Gateshead)

2021 – Baby Equipment Loan Service & Toy Library (North Tyneside); Better Days (Newcastle); Blyth Star Enterprises (South-East Northumberland); Rainbow Home (North East)

2022 -Box Youth Project (Sunderland); Curious Monkey (regionwide); Hextol Foundation (West Northumberland & Newcastle); West End Women & Girls Centre (West Newcastle)

2023 – Action Station South Tyneside; Barnabus Safe & Sound (Northumberland); BRIC (Northumberland); Pennywell Neighbourhood Project (Sunderland)

What is the Giving Event

Each year the giving event takes place in May or June and is where our Giving Network members can meet the final four charities and learn more about their work through a presentation and the chance to chat to them directly. The donations that members have made into the fund during the year is available for them to allocate as they choose to one, or more, of the four charities at the giving event.

Are there any fees?

All funds at the Community Foundation make a contribution to cover our running costs. The Giving Network fund will contribute 10% based on the monthly donations only (so not Gift Aid and not the match) which means each £30 donation will contribute £3. See the examples below to show how this will work.

Giving by Direct Debit

Your donation*	£30.00 per month
Gift Aid	£7.50 per month
Cost contribution @ 10% of £30	£3.00 per month
£ for £ match on your donation	£30.00 per month
Total per month into the Fund	£64.50 per month

Your overall donations into Fund over the year	£774.00 per year

*Higher rate tax payers may claim back an additional 20% of your donation plus gift aid (£37.50) through your tax return making your actual donation £22.50 per month.

Giving via your company’s Give as You Earn scheme

Your Give As You Earn pledge**	£37.50 per month
Cost contribution based on 10% of £30	£3.00 per month
£ for £ match on the minimum donation	£30 per month
Total per month into the Fund	£64.50

Your overall donations into the Fund over the year	£774.00 per year