Google has paired up with Media Trust and Charity Technology Trust to launch a campaign aimed at helping small UK charities drive growth via the internet.
The Grow Your Charity Online project will centre on providing charities with online tools and training to help them better understand how to capitalise on the use of the web to increase fundraising, boost volunteer engagement and extend reach.
The year-long initiative will include free training and tools for charities across the UK, and will include an online learning hub, specialised training, workshops and live events aimed at “bridging the e-skills gap”.
Charities will also be granted free access to advertising and business apps for the first time, which are other businesses pay for.
As part of the project Google will run a regular series of online educational events for charities, which they can access remotely, while Google UK employees will dedicate time to the project, volunteering their internet expertise at various workshops throughout the year.
Matt Brittin, vice president of Google’s Northern & Central European operations, said the web is “essential” for charities’ growth.
“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,” he said.
Richard Craig, CEO of Charity Technology Trust, said few charities it works with are able to capitalise on what the internet can offer due to a lack of resources.
“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,” he added.
Graham Walker, CEO Go ON UK, said: “Digitally mature charities tell us that being online helps them interact and form closer bonds with their supporters and donors. He said research from Lloyds Banking Group shows 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,” he added,
Charities can sign up from today (5 February) at growyourcharityonline.com.