Matthew Good Foundation launches ‘Grants for Good’ Fund for Small Charities and Social Entrepreneurs

The Foundation has announced that applications are now open for the first round that will share £10,000 between five good causes.

Hull UK: A hull-based charitable foundation, the Matthew Good Foundation, has launched a Grants for Good Fund to support small charities, groups and individuals who are passionate about making a difference to people, their community or the environment. The fund is open to brand new projects with innovative ideas as well as established charities whose average income is less than £50,000 per year.

The hull-based family business, John Good Group, that was founded in 1833 created the Foundation in 2011. It was created in memory of Matthew Good, former family Managing Director, who passed away whilst running the Humber Half Marathon and raising money for a school in Uganda. It has since donated over £450,000 to good causes close to the hearts of its employees. This latest initiative forms part of the John Good Group’s commitment to give back to the community. 

Michelle Taft, Executive Director, of the Matthew Good Foundation, said, “Until now, the Matthew Good Foundation has empowered employees of the John Good Group to support many good causes in the UK and around the world by nominating good causes for funding. However, in 2021, our tenth year, we wanted to extend our impact and allow small charities, community projects and social entrepreneurs to come straight to us. We wanted to contribute to the incredible work of small charities and social enterprises that our employees may not already know about and give these smaller projects a helping hand while helping to raise awareness of their cause.”

Every three months, the Foundation will share £10,000 between five shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment. To stay true to its ethos of donating funds to causes close to the hearts of its members, every three months, five shortlisted projects will be voted for by John Good Group employees. These five charities will all receive a share of £10,000 – the more votes a cause receives, the bigger the donation. The project that receives the most votes will receive a grant of £3,500; second place £2,500, third place £2,000 with fourth and fifth place both receiving £1,000.

Tim Good, Chairman of the Foundation and 6th generation custodian of the family business, commented; “Through our Grants for Good fund, we’re building on the widespread success of the funding applications that come from John Good Group employees and giving a further £40,000 to small, good causes. I’m excited to see the impact these small grants will have on passionate and driven projects that aim to make a positive difference. As well as established projects and charities, we’re keen to hear from people with innovative ideas that need some funding to get up and running.”

Charities and projects hoping to secure funding in the first round need to submit their applications by the 15th March 2021. Applications must be on behalf of a local community group, charity, voluntary group, community interest company, social enterprise or social entrepreneur that has a positive impact on communities, people or the environment and has an average income of less than £50,000 in the last 12 months.

For more information or to apply for your charity or project to secure a grant of up to £3,500, visit www.matthewgoodfoundation.org/grantsforgood.