A new initiative designed to encourage philanthropy in Jersey could unlock up to £1 million for local charities and community projects.
Through the Jersey Community Foundation’s Matched Giving Challenge, qualifying donations will be matched pound-for-pound, helping to increase the overall funding available for Jersey’s charitable sector while encouraging more people to give.
A total of £500,000 has been made available through Dormant Bank Account funding to match individual donations of between £10,000 and £50,000. If fully utilised, the initiative could generate £1 million for charitable causes across the Island.
In Jersey, a bank account is classified as dormant if no transactions have been made for 15 years.
Donors will be able to continue to support their charitable cause directly through the Jersey Community Foundation, while the matched funding element will be allocated to complementary initiatives through the Jersey Community Fund. This will ensure that the additional funding reaches a broad range of community needs across Jersey, helping more charities and community organisations benefit.
Anna Terry (pictured), Chief Executive of Jersey Community Foundation, said: “Jersey has always had a strong culture of generosity, and this initiative gives us an opportunity to build on that. Every matched donation not only supports a cause that matters to the donor, but also helps strengthen the wider charitable sector by unlocking additional funding for communities across the Island.
“We hope it will encourage even more people to experience the impact that philanthropy can have in Jersey. This is about growing a stronger culture of philanthropy in Jersey.”
Matched giving has a strong track record internationally. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government's Community Match Challenge Fund helped unlock £40 million of support for charities by matching government and philanthropic funding, enabling hundreds of organisations to continue delivering essential services when communities needed them most.
External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “This partnership between Government and the Jersey Community Foundation will help to ensure that funds are distributed independently and transparently to where they can make the greatest difference. I know how generous Islanders are, and hope this initiative will encourage more Islanders to consider how their generosity can contribute to the long-term wellbeing of our community.”
