After helping over 100 small charities to expand in London, venture philanthropy charity Pilotlight is now furthering its own expansion plans. Over the next three years it wants to have a much wider reach.
In September, it opened an office in Scotland. It is also carrying out a feasibility study in Wales and the West Country with the prospect of opening another office. Within three years it hopes to have four offices in total.
Pilotlight works by matching business entrepreneurs with charity leaders to encourage growth and sustainability. It places teams of highly skilled business experts into small charities and social enterprises facing specific challenges. Each year it facilitates the donation of over £2m worth of skills.
According to Guidestar UK, there are over 40,000 small charities in the UK tackling problems at a community level. Pilotlight wants to reach more of these charities over the next three years.
Fiona Halton, Pilotlight’s Director, says, “The business talent is there, lying latent as far as the charities are concerned: the local heroes are there, battling the problems. We are bringing the skills of business into charity. It's about bridging two worlds."
Over 90% of the charities Pilotlight has worked with have shown a significant improvement.
The charity JusB is one of Pilotlight’s success stories. It provides outreach and youth centre work. Members of Pilotlight have helped to double the income from a fundraising campaign and to launch a new mentoring service.
Pilotlight is funded predominantly by its members, which include corporates, such as BP, Coutts and KPMG, as well as individuals.
The help it offers can range from financial management to income diversification or turning a business plan into reality.
Julie Wright of Unlock, a charity which supports reformed ex-offenders, says, “It was a step into the dark – we didn’t know what it would involve, but working with Pilotlight was the best thing we ever did. From not having a fundraising strategy at all, with Pilotlight’s help we developed one which enabled us to go on and win nearly half a million pounds in funding.”
