Cause4

Cause4

Type	Private
Industry	Third Sector fundraising
Founded	May 2009
Founders	Michelle Wright, Nick Gandon
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Website	www.cause4.co.uk

Cause4 is an organisation that works in partnership with the charity sector, corporates and philanthropists in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was launched in May 2009 and aims to be a modernising influence within the Third Sector.^[1] The company works with long-established national charities as well as smaller local charities and recently established social enterprises, both as a fundraiser and strategy consultant. Cause4 also specialises in developing philanthropic foundations for individuals and companies and implementing company social responsibility strategies.

In 2010 Cause4 developed a training programme through which to address the shortage of development and fundraising personnel within the charity, arts, sports and education sectors. This programme became known as the Cause4 Entrepreneurship programme in March 2013.^[2] The company also hosts a range of fundraising, creative and digital apprenticeships.

Other graduate development programmes led by Cause4 include a Fellowship programme for the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Programme funded by Arts Council England ^[3] and development of a Creative Entrepreneurs programme for start up creative businesses in partnership with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama ^[4]

In 2014-15, the company raised over £15 million for charitable causes. The company claims to regularly raise over £750,000 in charitable income per month and has raised over £38 million in charitable income since set up.^[5]

Directors

• Michelle Wright
• Charles Pike
• Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett.^[6]

Awards

Cause4 Director Michelle Wright won Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the Natwest national Startup Awards^[7] and was a winner in the Future 100 awards.^[8] In 2012 Cause4 was listed in the Top 100 Startups.^[9]

Cause4 was a finalist in the Natwest Startup awards 2011 for 'Social Enterprise of the Year',^[10] is a finalist in the UK start up businesses 2012 The Pitch competition,^[11] in the Orange National Business Awards 2012 Start Up of the Year ^[12] and Great British Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 and 2014.

Cause4 has also been awarded a place on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses programme^[13] in 2012 to support high potential small businesses.

In November 2012, Cause4 won two silver international Stevie Awards,^[14] one for "Innovative Company of the Year" and another for "Female Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 was a bronze award winner for female innovator of the year.^[15] In 2014 Michelle Wright CEO was awarded a gold Stevie as Women of the Year Business Services.

In 2013 Cause4 was invited by Lord Young of Graffham and Sir Terry Leary to join the Accelerate 250 for businesses showing rapid growth and great potential.^[16]

Cause4 was also cited in the Silicon Valley comes to the UK 100 list 2013 for high potential companies ^[17]

In 2014 GrowthAccelerator^[18] named Cause4 as a top 25 'hyper-growth' company in terms of increased turnover and job creation.^[19]

In 2014 Michelle Wright CEO was the first UK representative awarded the IWEC award for outstanding entrepreneurial achievement,^[20] and represents the UK as a National Champion for Entrepreneur of the Year in the European Business Awards.^[21]

The company won the social impact award at the 2015 Everline 50 awards for most disruptive small companies ^[22] and CEO Michelle Wright was recognised in the Maserati 100 list for Entrepreneurs ‘who give back’.^[23]

References

External links

• Cause4 company website