By Mark Shearer, CEO of ActionFunder
I’ve spent the last 15 years building technology to connect local community groups doing incredible work with the businesses that want to back them. Before that, I started out in property development – and today, as both the CEO of ActionFunder and a councillor for Westminster, I see the same issue from every angle. Businesses genuinely want to deliver social value, but too often they’re held back by outdated processes and unnecessary red tape.
And the pressure is only building.
With the new Procurement Act, social value has become a make-or-break factor in bids. The November budget is likely to have a sharpened focus on how every pound is spent and justified. And at events like LREF, it’s clear that social value is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s a core expectation.
The stakes have never been higher. Businesses can’t afford to get social value wrong.
Alongside this sits the longstanding challenge of Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions. Right now, an estimated £8 billion of these funds remain unspent across the UK. That’s £8 billion earmarked for communities – but tied up in slow, complex processes. For developers, this represents reputational risk: money promised but not delivered damages trust with both local authorities and residents. It also represents a missed opportunity, those funds could be making a visible difference now, if only businesses had a faster, more transparent way to deploy them.
The Problem? Too Much Admin, Not Enough Impact. Corporate giving hasn’t kept up with the pace of change. Teams spend days – even weeks – on due diligence, reporting and paperwork. Meanwhile, the communities who most need investment are left waiting.
The intention is there. The effort is there. But the impact? It’s often delayed, diluted or difficult to prove.
The Reality on the Ground
There are non-profits all over the UK contributing billions to the economy,providing essential services in every community and changing lives everyday. Yet despite their scale and impact, many are operating under significant strain. Funding constraints and political, economic and environmental pressures are creating huge challenges.
Non-profits remain on the frontline of some of society’s most pressing issues, from tackling poverty and inequality, to driving climate action and strengthening community cohesion. Driven by local people, they have the expertise and the deep local connections needed to deliver real impact. It’s why the sector already delivers over £14 billion worth of public services on behalf of the government.
But the funding landscape is stark. Grant applications have surged by a reported 30–50%, with some grant-giving foundations seeing their numbers double. Larger charities (those with incomes over £1m) continue to receive the majority of government income – with major and super-major organisations taking 61% of all government funding. Meanwhile, smaller charities, those with an income under £100,000 (around 80% of the sector), are left heavily dependent on government funding, often without the resources to meet growing demand.
That’s why we created ActionFunder – to make it easier for businesses to fund the community projects that deliver the most meaningful social impact.
The Campaign: Give AF
This month, we’re launching a bold new campaign: Give AF.
Yes, it’s irreverent and cheeky. But behind the humour is a serious point: we know businesses want to deliver the social value that’s so desperately needed, what’s been missing is an easy way to unlock it, and that’s exactly what ActionFunder provides.
We’re also bringing our non-profit network into the campaign, giving ActionFunder-based community groups the chance to celebrate the work they’re doing and proudly show that they too Give AF. After all, they’re the ones delivering impact on the ground every day.
We’re inviting our clients, partners, and peers to stand with us. Share the message. Join the movement. Show that you do “Give AF” about social value – and are ready to prove it.
The Moment: Why Now
We’re at a watershed moment. The Procurement Act and tightening budgets are forcing businesses to raise their game. Communities need more than box-ticking exercises. And forward-thinking organisations are seizing this as a chance to stand out.
This is an opportunity, not a burden. Those who embrace smarter, faster and more transparent social value now, will win the trust of stakeholders, secure contracts and create lasting impact.
As we move into the winter months, where challenges for communities around the UK become greater, my message is simple: it’s time to Give AF.
Join us:
