London, 05 February 2013

Google to help 30 000 UK charities grow via the Internet

News Facts

- Free web tools and training for thousands of charities across the UK

- Designed to overcome resource barriers to growth and reduce the e-skills gap

- Year-long initiative in partnership with Media Trust and Charity Technology Trust

Google, in partnership with Media Trust and Charity Technology Trust, today launched a new campaign to help 30,000 of Britain’s smallest charities boost their fundraising through online tools and the Internet.

The ‘Grow Your Charity Online’ initiative will provide free training and tools for charities across the country. It comprises an online learning hub, specialised training, workshops and live events that aim to bridge the e-skills gap.

According to a new survey undertaken by the Charity Technology Trust, 54% of charities in the UK would invest in online fundraising if money was no object. Lloyds Banking Group, one of the founder partners of Go ON, also recently commissioned a study examining internet skills across the UK Small Business and Charity sector. It found that more than half of charities need support with web design and management.

Through the need for support in this area, charities will learn how to harness the power of the Internet to amplify their reach, bolster their fundraising and boost their volunteer engagement.

They will also have free access to online services that businesses pay for such as advertising and business apps for the first time in the UK. Those with few resources will also be able to download free training materials to help them make the most of the web.

Google will travel across the UK during 2013 to meet with charities face-to-face. It will also host a regular series of online educational events, allowing charities from across the UK to join advice sessions remotely. In addition to the tools, Google UK employees will dedicate a percentage of their work time towards the project, by volunteering their Internet expertise at various workshops over the year.

The initiative has evolved from a successful legacy that Google undertook to help hundreds of thousands of small UK businesses to grow online in Wales and other regions previously.

Charities can sign up from today at www.growyourcharityonline.com.

The web is essential for charities to access new tools to share stories, help people and raise money. Britain’s charities need sustainable, practical methods with which to help themselves grow and really make a difference, and Grow Your Charity Online aims to help these organisations ultimately succeed. We hope to engage with 30 000 charities through a suite of Internet tools and training, and encourage them to sign up today!”

Matt Brittin, VP of Google’s Northern & Central European operations

Innovation and social enterprise underpin the work of small charities. Exploring opportunities to learn new skills to manage their online presence can enable them to change the world by giving a voice to communities and inspiring more people to make a difference, to get help, volunteer and donate. We are delighted that Google is supporting Media Trust’s plans to assist charities in communicating more effectively and creatively online. There are exciting times ahead as we look forward to engaging a talented group of Google staff as volunteers and mentors for a diverse range of charities from across the UK.

Caroline Diehl, Chief Executive and founder of communications charity Media Trust

Due to a lack of resources, very few of the charities we work with are able to take full advantage of what the internet has to offer to help them to achieve their missions. Without the time or money to invest in it, charities may miss out on the advantages that web analytics, online communications, promotional offers or even a YouTube page can offer them. We are pleased to join with Google and Media Trust in launching The Grow Your Charity Online initiative, which we hope will reverse this trend. It will provide the information and technologies charities need to take full advantage of the Internet.

Richard Craig, CTT Chief Executive

Digitally mature charities tell us that being online helps them interact and form closer bonds with their supporters and donors. The Lloyds Banking Group research shows that these charities are more than twice as likely to have seen increased donations than those making less use of the internet. However, with one fifth of charities in the UK using the internet only for email or web searches and nearly 60% saying they need training to use social media initiatives like the Google's skills workshop are critical in helping these organisations develop their basic online skills as well as build the digital capability of British business.

Graham Walker, CEO Go ON UK

Our study shows that some UK charities are missing out on many opportunities to engage with their communities and supporters through digital. Charities need help with tools and training to make the most of this technology. Lloyds Banking Group is committed to playing its part and we hope this new initiative makes its mark.

Ashley Machin, Managing Director Group Digital Lloyds Banking Group

Editor's Notes

Google For Nonprofits will be providing the easy-to-use services that small, eligible charities can apply for, including teaching materials to guide users through the basics of how to analyse web traffic through to more advanced tips on working in the cloud and site promotion.

About Google Inc.
Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.

Google is a trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

About Media Trust
Media Trust believes in the power of media to change lives. We work with the media industry to empower charities and communities to have a voice and be heard. This is achieved by; providing communications skills and resources; helping access audiences; and harnessing creative industry talent.

Our corporate members include Aegis Group plc, AMV BBDO, BBC, Channel 4, Daily Mail and General Trust, Discovery Networks Europe, Google, Guardian Media Group, IPC Media, ITV plc, MTV Networks UK and Ireland, News International, Sky, WPP.

For more information visit www.mediatrust.org, or follow us @Media_Trust

About Charity Technology Trust (CTT).
CTT is an impartial, non-profit-making organisation which provides the charitable sector with information technology and support services including hardware, software (CTXchange) and support for e-mail marketing (CTTMail) and online payments systems (CTPayments).

CTT currently works with over 12,000 charities around the UK. Formed in 2001, CTT is the only UK registered charity devoted to improving the operational efficiency of charities through the use of information technology.

For more information visit www.ctt.org, or follow us @Charity_Tech

Connecting theThird Sector toTechnology

Google to help 30 000 UK charities grow via the Internet

Connecting the
Third Sector to
Technology