The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2019 is on!

03/12/2019

Design with computer screens, clock and coins and text Giving Tuesday 7 days

#GivingTuesday kicks off the seven-day match funding campaign

We are championing 31 heritage charities in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, from 3-10 December — and you can donate to your favourite, too.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2019 — the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign — kicks off at midday today, 3 December, also known as #GivingTuesday.

A crowd wave in front of two geodesic domes — Good Chance Theatre, one of the 31 charities, who use geodesic dome theatres to work with refugees and local communities.

What is it?

Over the summer our 31 chosen charities have been collecting donation pledges from their supporters. As a Champion, we're matching those pledges.

The collective pot is being used to double donations made by online supporters over the next seven days. One donation, twice the impact.

So, our investment of £250,000 will help heritage charities raise at least £1million. Find out more and donate on The Big Give website.

A large rusty sea vessel in conservation — The National Museum of the Royal Navy is working to save the last surviving Second World War, D-Day Landing Craft Tank, LCT 7074

“There are not just financial benefits to (match funding), but also great opportunities for organisations to form valuable partnerships, gain new supporters and volunteers, and expand their audiences.”

Anne Young, Director of Strategy & Innovation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Building capacity

Championing The Big Give is part of our commitment to build capacity and resilience in the heritage sector. We want to help organisations cultivate fundraising skills, develop their income streams and grow new ones.

On top of the financial contribution, our chosen charities have also received a support package including webinars, coaching calls, resources and peer-to-peer learning.

A church facade — Wesley Memorial Church, Oxford, is raising money to create a Heritage Atrium to benefit their communities.

Anne Young, Director of Strategy & Innovation at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to be a Champion of The Big Give and supporting charities for this year’s Christmas Challenge. This is the first year we’ve signed up as a partner, following a match funding pilot we ran, which shows there are not just financial benefits to this approach, but also great opportunities for organisations to form valuable partnerships, gain new supporters and volunteers, and expand their audiences.

"When we launched our new five-year strategic plan at the beginning of this year we made a firm commitment to offering match funding, to incentivise others to donate to heritage, so it’s great to be ending the year by putting this into practice.”

A child surrounded by adults in a theatre setting — Flute Theatre helps people with autism

Who are we match funding?

Our 31 charities span the full breadth of heritage, from community theatre to transport, and landscapes to cathedrals. Explore them all — and make a donation — on The Big Give website.