CASE STUDIES · Simple and straightforward

Ian McVeigh

Backing people and building trust: Why smaller charities matter

Through his Donor Advised Fund at Prism, Ian McVeigh supports small, often overlooked charities and says the satisfaction of backing people he believes in is unmatched..

Fund type

Donor Advised Fund

Amount raised/granted

NA

Years

Since 2013

Background

Ian McVeigh retired from a successful career in financial services and now dedicates his time and resources to supporting charities through his Donor Advised Fund at Prism. His giving is driven by a belief in investing in people and leadership. He gives to a wide range of large and small charities but is especially keen to support small causes with local or specialist impact.

Whilst Ian admires people who get involved with charities acting as trustees or founders, this was not a path that appealed to him. His focus has always been on investing in the projects he is passionate about and sharing his knowledge and insights when required.

Problem

Many small charities struggle to secure unrestricted or multi-year funding, making it difficult for them to cover core costs, invest in their teams, or plan for long-term sustainability. Funding is often tied to projects, limiting their ability to build the capacity needed for real impact.

“Tennis for All has made me fall in love with tennis. I attended the sessions at Andover Estate and did free holiday camps at Finsbury Park. I didn’t realise that tennis could be so easy to play! My coaches were great and made the lessons really fun… Now I play every week in the junior squad and also still love to go to the holiday camps!”

–– Luke. Tennis for All participant

Impact

Ian’s Donor Advised Fund has supported a diverse portfolio of causes, from bursaries for disadvantaged children to attend private schools, to wildlife protection in Asia.

His annual donation helped Access Sport grow a local tennis programme from a small initiative into one now reaching over 1,100 first-time players annually, supported by multiple funders including the Lawn Tennis Association. Multi-year funding offers much-needed stability and longevity.

Ian also funded a refugee cricket group, which is now coached by members who joined themselves as teenagers and are now giving back to their community.

A grant to increase the pay of a CEO in London helped retain skills and expertise in the sector.

Over the years Ian has built a strong relationship with the people working for the causes he supports and sees this as an important part of the philanthropic experience.