In March 2012, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation understands the donations website www.localgiving.com is releasing another LARGE “match fund” pot. This means that any charity/community group that is on the site can have any money they raise online matched pound for pound, doubling the total amount received (up to max which we understand will be £2500). This follows on from a very successful Christmas 2011 “Match Fund”, in which £250,000 was raised in matched funding over a period of just 7 days. Over £10,000 of this money went to Cambridgeshire groups already on localgiving.com.

Voluntary and community groups that want to take advantage of the March 2012 match fund (noting there will be others later in the year as well) need to:

1. Get your profile onto localgiving.com – to do this email us on  lg10@cambscf.org.uk to ask for details. Cambridgeshire Community Foundation vet and approve all groups that wish to go on the site from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
2. Raise awareness of your LG page and create some fundraising activities which lead to people donating to your group online WHEN the match fund is open in February (you may consider inviting some volunteers to help with this task to maximise the opportunity).

Groups already on localgiving.com should note that the opportunity for matched funding will automatically be available to you if the same rules apply to the March match as did for the Christmas Match (for example, if you have not fully subscribed the match sum available is £250, but this is increased to £2500 for groups that have paid their annual £72.00 LG subscription).

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation wants to encourage as many Cambridgeshire charitable groups that is has contact with to take advantage of the match challenges on offer. Online fundraising is becoming an important tool for any charitable organisation, and we really hope this opportunity to double your donations will provide exactly the kind of kick-start your group may need