theBigGive.org.uk helping your donations go further

Pro Dono and the Big Give Join forces

The Big Give and Pro Dono have teamed up to promote the opportunities that Pro Dono offer, and for the ambassadors of Pro Dono to be able to use their donations to inspire the next generation of philanthropists – through the Big Give’s Philanthropy in Schools programme.

Pro Dono was launched as a not-for-profit organisation in February 2011 arranging one-to-one conversations with public figures in aid of charity. Its aim is to boost charitable giving by providing an effective new fundraising platform for charities.

Admired figures from all areas of eminence (from academics to actors, media personalities to politicians, sportspeople to industry leaders), the Pro Dono heroes give their time to meet a member of the public one-to-one for a lunch, dinner or some other experience related to their area of expertise (e.g. a cookery lesson, lap of Silverstone, or backstage access).

If you would like to meet one of the Pro Dono heroes, the opportunities can be viewed on their website, www.prodono.co.uk.

The proceeds are donated to the hero’s charity of choice. Through choosing their charity, Pro Dono heroes often wish to help inspire and educate their local or childhood communities, and the Philanthropy in Schools is an excellent way to achieve this aim.

Pro Dono heroes can now choose to use their donation to encourage intelligent giving amongst the next generation.

The Big Give Philanthropy in Schools Programme

The Big Give has developed an exciting programme to inspire the next generation of philanthropists, providing the first step towards a lifetime of charitable activity.

Pro Dono heroes can now use their donation to provide a class of children at a school of their choice with a voucher each – ranging from £25-£50 in value. Students then conduct thorough research into charities of interest to them and answer online questions which help them to evaluate their chosen charities.

Each student then donates their own voucher online, before discussing their choice with a small group of their peers. As a group, they then choose one of the charities which has already received a voucher to give a presentation on – with the winning presentation earning an extra donation.

The programme has been running for three years and has already been featured in both the Economist and the Wall Street Journal. Twenty schools are estimated to take part in 2011, with over 600 pupils (generally years 8 and 9) benefiting from the project.

Pro Dono heroes can now use your donation to allow a group of children of your choice to undertake this programme. This would mean that not only  would all of your donation go to a range of charitable causes, but you could provide the first steps into philanthropy for a captive audience of students.

To learn more about Pro Dono, and how you can get involved please contact Glen Jeffries by email (gj@prodono.co.uk), telephone (01753 320007), or visit the Pro Dono website (www.prodono.co.uk)