In Good Company is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Merseyside to encourage companies to become involved in local communities. Local businesses are invited to join and pay a membership fee from £250 to £750 depending on the size of the company. For that they get expert advice on their charitable giving, and networking and PR opportunities. “The strategy is to get them engaged and then move them on to greater giving,” says Dave Roberts, Executive Director. “Once they see the impact even a small grant can have, it is relatively easy to encourage them to give.”
It is also promoted as a ‘badge of honour’, linking local companies with a common commitment to the community and aiming to create a cycle of giving within Merseyside. For example, a website company might give money to the Foundation for grants on website projects. The community group might then use their services, creating income from which the company can give more.
In Good Company now has 15 members, 12 of whom channel funds through the foundation into grant-making projects.
