Meet the Team: The Fundraising Sub-Committee

Pictured above: Senior Warden Steve Fitz-Gerald

Following the adoption of ‘Aiming Points’ for the Company towards our 350th anniversary year, and an ambitious target to increase the charitable funds invested and grant giving substantially, a Fundraising Sub-Committee was formed in 2023.

The Committee is chaired by Senior Warden Steve Fitz-Gerald and the Secretary is Liveryman Nick Williams-Howes. The Committee is supported by IPM Julian Leach, Court Assistants Eric Wallbank, Rakesh Sharma, PM Graham Cole and Renter Warden David Barrett. Expertise in fundraising, communications and tech is provided by Liveryman Abbie Carr, Hon Assistant Lesley Upham, Liveryman John Fuggles and Liveryman Mike Baunton.

Several avenues are being pursued to raise new funds for the Charitable Trust, and the most important of these sources are the members. We all know that all Livery Companies and Guilds are focused on philanthropy equally alongside fellowship and our trades and crafts. We are proud of our strap line ‘An active livery investing in young people’. We do this by raising and distributing charitable funds for causes connected to our industries, certain institutions within the City of London, STEM education and, where we are able to help, disadvantaged people.

Member giving

Admission to all livery companies implies that members will support the philanthropic endeavour by giving time, treasure, and expertise according to means. Making regular recurring donations, which is preferred for its predictable steady income, need only commit modest amounts as it is the act of giving which fulfils the expectation.

The Committee has encouraged the Coachmakers’ Charity Trustees to adopt a safe and low cost third party direct debit collection service which takes moments to set-up. GoCardless is a British fintech used widely across the livery for the collection of donations, subs, dinners costs and other charges. The Fundraising Committee is in the process of sending requests to members to authorise a bank mandate and inform the Renter Warden of their preferred giving amounts and frequencies. Please look out for GoCardless communications.

Corporate giving and high net-worth individuals

We are indeed fortunate that our constituency industries that make up our affiliated trades, crafts and professions are for the most part large and successful businesses in automotive, aerospace, defence and motor sports. The Committee is working to develop connections with these businesses with a view to acquiring sponsorship of awards and grants. Many of our business connections are private equity based where high net-worth owners may be in a position to participate in our philanthropy. Many businesses see giving in this way, supporting the young in their industries, as discharging their corporate community service aims.

Casual giving

There are opportunities for receiving income from casual giving and the Committee is working on implementing donation QR codes (giving buttons) into our website for this purpose. This would provide a single step solution to giving, and would be beneficial at, for instance, events, where QR codes can be included in menu cards or souvenir brochures.