Jersey has a long tradition of generosity.
Every day we see individuals, families and businesses supporting causes they care about, helping young people access opportunities, supporting Islanders through difficult times and strengthening the communities around them.
At Jersey Community Foundation, we have the privilege of seeing the impact of that generosity first-hand. Over the past five years, we have distributed more than £13 million across the Island, supporting hundreds of organisations and initiatives that are changing lives in quiet but meaningful ways.
What continues to inspire me most is seeing how often relatively modest acts of generosity can transform someone's opportunities, confidence or quality of life. Whether it is a young person accessing education or sport, a family receiving support before reaching crisis point, or an older Islander finding connection and companionship, these are tangible examples of philanthropy making a real difference. But the reality is that demand for support is growing faster than the funding available to meet it.
That is why the launch of Jersey's first island-wide Matched Giving Challenge is so significant.
Supported by the Jersey Reclaim Fund and delivered independently by Jersey Community Foundation, the initiative will match qualifying donations pound-for-pound, potentially unlocking up to £1 million for Jersey's charitable sector.
Matched funding is not a new idea, and there is strong evidence that it can be a powerful catalyst for giving.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, £20 million from the UK Government's Community Match Challenge Fund was matched by £20 million from charitable funders through the Covid-19 Support Fund. The result was £40 million of support reaching charities at a critical time, delivering essential services to communities when they were needed most.
The principle behind matched giving is simple. When people know their donation can unlock additional funding, they are often encouraged to give, and sometimes to give more. The result is greater collective impact and more resources flowing into the charitable sector than would otherwise have been possible.
That is exactly what we hope to achieve in Jersey.
At its heart, the initiative is about encouraging more philanthropy in Jersey. The Island already has a strong culture of giving, but this scheme creates a powerful new incentive for people to support the causes they care about while helping to increase the overall amount of funding available across the charitable sector.
This is not just about raising more money, although that matters enormously. It is about building a stronger culture of philanthropy in Jersey and making it easier for people to see the impact their generosity can have.
Because charities do far more than provide crisis support. They create opportunity, improve wellbeing and help prevent problems from escalating in the first place.
Recent research through Jersey Community Foundation's Impact Accelerator Programme, delivered in partnership with PwC Channel Islands, found that just 13 local charities generated an estimated £137 million in economic and social value in a single year.
For every £1 invested, those organisations generated £1.77 in economic value and £2.66 in social value, while also reducing pressure on public services through early intervention and community-based support.
We often talk about the third sector in terms of compassion and rightly so. But charities are also highly effective, innovative and deeply important to the long-term wellbeing of our Island.
The matched funding element of the scheme is being provided through Dormant Bank Account funding held within the Jersey Reclaim Fund.
The initiative has been developed in partnership with the Government of Jersey, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening the Island's charitable sector. As External Relations Minister Ian Gorst has said, it demonstrates how government and philanthropy can work together to achieve greater impact than either could alone, using dormant bank account funding to unlock additional support for Jersey's charities while encouraging a stronger culture of giving across the Island.
While donors will continue to be able to support the charities and causes they care about most, the matched funding itself will be allocated through the Jersey Community Fund, helping to address a broad range of needs across the Island.
This approach reflects one of the scheme's key objectives: not only to encourage more giving, but also to increase the overall amount of funding available to support community need wherever it is greatest.
That need is significant. Our latest Jersey Community Fund round attracted more than 70 applications and was substantially oversubscribed, reflecting growing demand across a wide range of issues including poverty, mental health, isolation, housing pressures and family support.
As a Community Foundation, our role is to take an Island-wide view and ensure funding reaches the areas where it can make the greatest difference. By directing the matched funding into a shared community fund, we can help support a wider range of organisations and projects than might otherwise benefit.
At a time when community organisations are facing increasing demand, every act of generosity matters. Through this initiative, Islanders have an opportunity not only to support the causes they care about, but also to unlock additional funding that can benefit communities across the Island.
That is the power of matched giving, and why this initiative has the potential to make a real difference for Jersey.
Matched Giving Challenge 2026
Double the impact of your giving
Thanks to support from the Jersey Reclaim Fund, qualifying donations made through Jersey Community Foundation can currently be matched £1 for £1, helping to unlock even more funding for Jersey's charitable sector.
Scheme at a glance
£500,000 available in matched funding
Over £150,000 already pledged
Minimum donation: £10,000
Maximum matched donation: £50,000
Scheme closes: 31 October 2026 (or earlier if all match funding is allocated)
How it works
Your donation can be directed to a charity or charitable cause (in Jersey) of your choice through Jersey Community Foundation.
The matched funding element is then allocated through the Jersey Community Fund, helping to support a broad range of local charities and community projects addressing the Island's greatest needs. This approach allows donors to support the causes they care about while also increasing the overall funding available across Jersey's charitable sector.
Tax-efficient giving
If you are a Jersey taxpayer, your donation may also be eligible for Gift Support, increasing the overall value of your contribution even further.
Who can take part?
The scheme is open to individuals, families and businesses wishing to support charitable causes in Jersey through Jersey Community Foundation.
Organisations who wish to access funding can apply to the Jersey Community Foundation via the usual grant rounds.
Find out more
To discuss making a donation or to request further information, please contact: