Doubling the value of life

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 9 Jan 2009

Philanthropist Alec Reed is looking into the possibility of matching legacy gifts through his website The Big Give.

Reed told PF his idea is in its infancy but would involve someone leaving their legacy through The Big Give to be matched, and only giving it to the charity once it had been doubled.

He quipped: "It's fundraising from the grave! But we think it could work."

The Big Give's £1m matched funding programme in December proved very popular, with 260 charities benefitting from up to £20,000 each.

Speaking at the European Association For Planned Giving's seminar on the recession, hosted by fundraising and management consultants Brakeley in London last month, Reed also revealed he believes charities should only be given tax relief when they spend money and not when they receive it, so there is an incentive to spend and not just keep huge reserves.

Reed said he knew people and charities who had lost millions on the stock exchange and said it was because they were not spending the money. He said anyone who has invested in fundraising has "beaten the markets".

Who's Who: Celina Ribeiro

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