Family businesses lead the way in charitable giving

Family businesses, many of which are long established within their community, are very often passionate about giving back.

Indeed, the 2021 survey of UK family businesses, conducted by PWC, found that the majority of UK family businesses continue to engage in some form of social responsibility activities, with 74 per cent of those surveyed contributing to the local community and 47 per cent participating in traditional philanthropy or grant-based giving.

We also see that family businesses may have a distinct advantage in delivering the ‘S’ strand of their Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, due to their being ‘the bedrock of communities across the UK’, as highlighted in the November 2020 report, ‘Family Business and Community Engagement’. The report explains that as many family businesses have passed through multiple generations, they have a ‘long-term commitment to a specific geographical place’ that helps to ‘build trust with communities and other stakeholders’.

It’s important for businesses to be able to quantify and demonstrate the positive impact they make, above and beyond their core business activities. The Community Foundation for Lancashire works with many family-run businesses who hold charitable giving at their heart, helping them develop what they are already doing, and ensuring they can evidence the impact they are making to their investors, suppliers, customers and potential and existing employees.

Wherever you are on your philanthropic journey, we can provide bespoke support.

From the first crucial step of creating your family’s social strategy, to connecting you with grass roots community groups who are seeking funding, we make sure your charitable giving makes a real difference and gets to those who need it most.