BGF Foundation celebrates National Volunteering Week

As an agile funder, the BGF Foundation is committed to being a partner that listens deeply, shares insight freely, and challenges strategically. From pro bono consultations with seasoned professionals to grassroots community grants, the Foundation is supporting charities with what they need most: infrastructure, feedback, and space to think and grow — not just funds.

Pro bono in action: strategic feedback sessions with seasoned experts

Growing companies are often encouraged to use consultants, industry experts or specialist advisors if/when a new business opportunity or challenge arises. Charities, on the other hand, are typically held to a very different standard. They may be criticised for spending money on something as necessary as a salary, let alone investing in external strategic advice or expertise.

Instead, charities are expected to minimise costs, with the bulk of income earmarked for frontline delivery. While that instinct is admirable, it doesn’t leave much room for infrastructure strengthening, long-term planning or leadership development — the things that actually help organisations become more resilient and sustainable over time.

This is why one of the most powerful tools in the Foundation’s support model is skills-based volunteering. The Foundation matches charities with the critical thinking and professional insight that businesses are more likely to access, when required.

It recently facilitated a feedback session, for instance, between senior leaders from BGF and partner charity Social Enterprise Academy (SEA). This was ahead of SEA’s launch of the Dragonfly Trust, a bold new initiative focused on long-term social impact and leadership development in the non-profit space.

Charlotte Moses Rains, COO of the BGF Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have the support of senior colleagues at BGF in providing this kind of expert input. The BGF Foundation benefits enormously from the pro bono contributions of BGF staff, portfolio companies, and advisors. Support like this is often difficult for charities to access, which makes it especially impactful. It’s a key part of our model as a funder — not only offering financial support, but also connecting charities with the skills and experience across the BGF network, to help them grow and succeed.”

The session challenged assumptions, sharpened SEA’s strategy, and gave them a stronger launchpad — saving what would typically cost thousands in consultancy fees, and delivering over three decades of expertise (across investor relations, private equity, ESG and strategic growth), at no cost to the charity. For a small, innovative charity preparing to pitch to funders, this kind of feedback can be game-changing.

Neil McLean, CEO of SEA, commented: “It’s not often we get such constructive and honest feedback from experienced experts in related fields. The session was invaluable in preparing us for the London Funders Forum. There’s lots to reflect on, and real scope for creating a strong offer to take into both the corporate setting and the foundations arena. Huge thanks to the BGF Foundation for making it happen and bringing such a high-calibre group together.”

SEA will soon pitch the Dragonfly Trust to the London Funders network, and we hope this session gave them extra clarity and confidence ahead of that conversation. The Foundation also encourages other funders to consider how meaningful engagement like this can help to de-risk innovation and unlock impact for charities.

BGF re-enters the Dragons’ Den

Alongside strategic feedback sessions, team members from across BGF are also able to use their skills to volunteer directly with the young people that SEA work with. Five more BGF volunteers recently took part in SEA’s Dragons’ Den initiative — supporting young people across five London boroughs, to pitch their own enterprise ideas, receive feedback and support, and grow in confidence.

Our team brought warmth, encouragement, and deep sector expertise to the sessions, offering thoughtful feedback and investment know-how that helped shape participants’ thinking. SEA shared how impressed they were by the calibre of feedback and the generosity of spirit shown by each volunteer.

Backing the causes our people care most about

Our team is full of community-minded people, with a passion for making a difference, across a wide range of issues that matter personally to them. Alongside the BGF Foundation’s strategic charity partnerships, which focus on young people, it’s launched a quarterly staff grants programme, recognising that impact comes in many forms. This gives BGF employees the chance to nominate and support charities they care about.

In the Foundation’s most recent round of staff grants, it awarded £5,000 to five different charities:

• The Felix Project
• Veterans Outreach Support
• Brink Productions CIO
• St Gemma’s Hospice
• Literacy Volunteers

These grants also act as a brilliant springboard for volunteering, giving employees an opportunity to both nominate a charity for funding and meaningfully engage with chosen causes, by offering their time and skills.

Take The Felix Project, for example: our Technology team recently spent a day on the ground with Felix, helping to redistribute surplus food across London. With over 10 million people in the UK experiencing food insecurity, charities like Felix are a vital lifeline — and we’re proud to be supporting them in both practical and financial ways.

The BGF Foundation implements the latest best practices from across the charity sector, combining unrestricted funding with critical infrastructure support and real-time learning. Whether it’s helping a charity prep for funder pitches and building internal systems, or giving our team a chance to support what matters to them, the Foundation believes in meeting the moment with the right type of support.

At a time when charities are asked to do more with less, its approach is about redistributing more than money: power, expertise, and belief.

Reach out to the BGF Foundation team here to learn more.