New ‘mark’ tells donors about ‘Pilotlight effect’ that is growing sustainable charities

By: 

Cheryl Chapman

Managing Editor, Philanthropy UK

A new ‘mark’ launched by Pilotlight, a charity that works to improve the sustainability and impact of partner organisations, aims to help donors and funders identify organisations that are benefitting from the ‘Pilotlight’ effect.

Evaluation of the capacity building work Pilotlight has done with charities and social enterprises shows that applying business strategies and know-how to them leads to an average 48% increase in their income within two years and the scope to reach 71% more people.

Pilotlight deputy CEO Gillian Murray says, ”One of the inspirations for launching the mark was to share the success our strategic review process is having on the sustainability and performance of organisations. It gives those wanting to invest or donate to charities another string to their bow in identifying effective organisations. It is in part a response to the current climate and the demand by donors to create greater impact from their donations and for recipient organisations to be more accountable.”

Organisations bearing the new Pilotlight mark will have undergone Pilotlight’s 12 -18-month strategic review; that is, they will have acquired the business skills and tools to help run their organisation through the process of writing a business plan, coached by a  team of four senior business people.

The potential benefits of carrying the mark to a charity include a greater likelihood of securing funding, accessing corporate support, and even attracting new trustees, says Pilotlight.

The mark is an outward commitment to Pilotlight’s ambition and ongoing commitment to tackling disadvantage in the UK.

Charities will be invited to display the ‘Pilotlight Mark’ prominently on their website homepage, in their annual review, grant proposals and other communication documents.

Earlier this year Philanthropy UK reported on a new Social Enterprise mark, that allows people to identify enterprises that use at least 50% of its profits for a social purpose and comply with other socially focussed criteria.

The Charity Commission encourages these kinds of initiatives that accredit quality and facilitate the sharing of best practice. In its recently republished guide Hallmarks of an Effective Charity it says, ”an effective charity… is not complacent but is engaged in a process of continual improvement, using techniques and tools best suited to its size and activities, such as recognised quality systems and benchmarking, in order to improve its own future performance.”