At TheGivingMachine, we’re often asked what drives us — why we do what we do and what inspired us to start a charity dedicated to changing the way people give. Our story begins with four founders — Richard Morris, Jonathan Bayly, Mark Rogers, and Craig McKenzie — all successful businessmen who shared a common desire: to give something back.
What began as informal chats over beer and pizza around a kitchen table quickly turned into something much bigger. Two of the founders were already working together and invited two others to join them, forming a team with a shared vision to create lasting social impact.
Rather than set up a single charity to support one cause, they imagined something bolder — an organisation that could empower thousands of good causes across the UK. They envisioned a platform that would make generosity more accessible, more inclusive, and deeply woven into everyday life.
While we’ve grown and evolved since those early days, our founding mission remains unchanged: to support all good causes — large and small — in a way that is sustainable, impactful, and deeply human.
Our purpose
Our purpose is to redefine the act of giving, making it simple, everyday, and accessible to everyone — no matter their financial situation. At TheGivingMachine, we believe that generosity should be part of life’s routine, not just reserved for the few who can afford to give.
Through initiatives like our GivingLottery and Community Grants programme, we offer practical, inclusive fundraising tools that generate unrestricted funding for charities, schools, and community groups. These funds allow organisations to decide for themselves how best to use the support — whether that’s covering basic operational costs or launching new projects.
We also help businesses embed giving into their culture, enhancing relationships with customers and employees while supporting the communities they serve. By fostering connections between supporters, good causes, and businesses, we’re building a powerful network dedicated to making the world a kinder, more supportive place.
Our Ambition
Our ambition is to transform the culture of giving in the UK — to make it not only easier but second nature. We want everyone, individuals, businesses, and organisations — to feel empowered to contribute in ways that align with their everyday lives and values.
We are driven by the belief that when giving becomes part of life, it benefits everyone. For supporters, it’s a chance to feel more connected to causes they care about. For businesses, it’s a way to deepen their social impact. And for good causes, it means access to consistent, flexible income — the kind that helps them plan for the future and stay resilient during hard times.
We are building a movement where kindness is scalable, sustainable, and transformative.
Our Impact
Since our founding, we’ve helped generate over £2.2 million in donations to more than 10,000 good causes across the UK. From small community groups and schools to larger national charities, we’ve provided the funding and tools they need to continue delivering life-changing work.
In 2023, our GivingLottery alone raised £66,476 in unrestricted donations, giving causes the flexibility to use the funds where they’re needed most. Our Community Grants programme has also provided essential support to grassroots initiatives - many of which rely on small but vital sums to cover bills, rent, or launch a new initiative.
At a time when public funding for local organisations is under strain and living costs are rising, our work is more important than ever. We provide a lifeline for good causes - many of whom tell us that without our support, they would struggle to survive.
But our impact isn’t just measured in pounds - it’s measured in lives changed, communities strengthened, and a national culture of giving that grows stronger every day.
Join our Giving Nation
Whether you’re a supporter, a business, or a local cause looking for help, there’s a place for you in our growing community. Together, we can continue building a more generous, connected, and compassionate world - one act of kindness at a time.
TheGivingMachine is approaching its 20th anniversary, and over the past two decades, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside an incredible group of people. While team members have come and gone, each one has brought passion, dedication, and a shared commitment to making a real difference.
To mark this milestone, we asked some of our current team members what they love most about working at TheGivingMachine - here’s what they had to say:
Luisa - Head of Operations
"I’ve been part of TheGivingMachine for 15 years, and my passion for making a difference in our community is as strong as ever. What continues to inspire me is seeing the real impact our work has on the lives of so many good causes. From the very beginning, TheGivingMachine has placed the organisations we support at the heart of everything we do. But just as importantly, it’s a charity that truly values its team — recognising and supporting us like family. That sense of purpose and belonging is what makes this journey so rewarding."
Michelle - Social Media Co-ordinator
"I love working at TheGivingMachine because we don’t just support one cause or one category, we are able to help so many different causes. After having cancer and needing the support of charities myself, I really wanted to give back. I’m so grateful to work somewhere that believes in its team, pushes us to grow outside of our comfort zones, and gives opportunities to people like me, a Mum who needed a chance to gain experience and rebuild confidence."
Nicola - CTO
"I love working with TGM because they are a small but mighty crew of awesome individuals all dedicated to getting as much money back into communities as possible. Never afraid to try new approaches, never afraid to think out side the box and they always have one constant at the heart of their decision making - if we do this will this have a positive impact on the communities we serve. Marry this with a team of brilliant humans who care deeply about one another and you have a winning combo!"
Richard - CEO
"Smaller, community focused causes work so hard to do so much with so little resources to support to our society in so many ways. TGM was created to help these causes and to see that vision and passion attract like-minded people to co-own it and make it a reality every day is just the best feeling. Fo me, I’m so grateful that I get to do what I love, with people I love to make a difference - tiptoptastic!"
Abigail - Business Development Manager
"Working with TGM – My main criteria when I was looking for a new role, was “I want to help people” and for me TGM fits that criteria perfectly, there aren’t many places where you can help not just one charity or sector, but all of them! It feels great to know that I am making a difference in my everyday role, helping good causes to raise vital funds. Not only this, but a 4-day working week has been monumental in giving me a better work life balance and allowing me to have (maybe too many!) weekends away."
About the author
Luisa Gatward
Our Head of Operations, Luisa is responsible for the smooth running of all operations including marketing and partner relationships. Having started working for TheGivingMachine in 2010, she has seen our Charity grow and develop into what we have today.