Why LandAid?
There is great value in an industry-wide body which can develop and promote the effective use of the industry’s combined resources, expertise and influence for charitable purposes. By working together in partnership we are able to achieve much more as well as presenting the industry in a good light.
Why support the young and disadvantaged?
We have chosen the young and disadvantaged as the specific focus of our support on the basis that they are a very deserving group who can benefit greatly from the resources that the property industry is able to offer, particularly in providing the physical environment in which they can thrive. This approach also embraces and builds on LandAid’s historical links in supporting the homeless.
Why do you focus on the physical environment?
We wish to make full use of the unique resources and expertise of the property industry and its capacity to develop and improve the physical environment in support of charitable causes.
How does LandAid add value?
LandAid takes care in identifying projects which will make a real difference and only partners with charities which meet agreed due diligence criteria. Our approach will increasingly be underpinned by expert research, careful vetting of projects and partner charities, effective use of resources (to complement other available funding streams), and the close monitoring of outcomes.
Why should we support LandAid rather than give direct to chosen charities?
We recognise that companies and individuals will want to support other charities besides LandAid. We respect the right of companies and individuals to support particular causes or charities of their choice, indeed we encourage it. One of our goals is to generate a greater level of overall giving within the sector. As the industry charity LandAid offers a different type of charitable investment. Our provisional target is that companies and individuals will in time invest perhaps 25% of their giving through LandAid.
How do you see LandAid’s role developing over the next three years?
We will continue to develop LandAid’s role as a significant grant making charity nationally and will increasingly provide an outlet for the use of the industry’s professional expertise and resources in delivering effective projects to meet identified charitable needs for example project management and volunteering.
What is the new Foundation Partner Scheme?
LandAid’s Foundation Partner Scheme allows key property industry organisations to become proactively involved in Land Aid’s work. It provides an effective mechanism for corporate partners to:
• Demonstrate their active support for LandAid’s work as the property industry charity
• Contribute collectively to maximising the industry’s overall charitable impact through LandAid
• Unite with an influential peer group to help shape LandAid’s future direction and growth.
Over time LandAid plans to bring the full resource and expertise of the property industry to bear in supporting the good work of the charity sector. By investing a proportion of their charitable funds through LandAid, Foundation Partners will also share in the broader benefit of the industry’s collective charitable efforts being seen to be better co-ordinated, more efficient and more effective in achieving a much greater return on charitable investment.
Fundraising
How do you raise funds to support LandAid’s activities?
Historically, LandAid has derived a significant part of its funds from events and corporate donations. With our funding now underpinned by the new Foundation Partner Scheme, LandAid will seek to further grow its income through a combination of corporate and individual giving and fundraising events.
If our first 25 Foundation Partners commit to raising a minimum of £10k through corporate and individual fundraising activities, this would raise at least a further £250,000 a year.
We estimate that there are as many as 250,000 people working either directly or indirectly within the property industry. If 10% of these can be persuaded to commit an average of as little as £100 a year to LandAid this would provide a further income of £2.5m. In practice, we are confident that LandAid will also attract the support of high net worth individuals who will willing to contribute considerably more to specific projects.
How much do you hope to raise?
LandAid’s turnover has grown from £100k to nearly £1m over the last four years. Our next target is to raise this first to £2m and then to £5m and well beyond. We are confident that we can make significant progress over the next 3-5 years, particularly as our work becomes more fully known and appreciated. We also plan to attract a significant amount of in kind assistance through the provision of resources and professional expertise for supported projects.
Is it possible to specify how our funds will be used?
It is certainly possible, particularly in the case of major donations, for donors to specify that their funds be associated with a particular programme or project e.g. Foundations for Life. Generally, donors leave this to the discretion of the LandAid Trustees rather than restrict the purposes for which funds may be used. LandAid only supports charities or projects which make a real and quantifiable difference in changing the lives of the young and disadvantaged. Our grant giving policy will be kept under review to ensure that it continues to reflect the general preferences of supporters across the industry.
Events
What events is LandAid involved with?
We run a small number of our own LandAid events, currently Party near the Park and the Fun Run.
LandAid is also the ongoing beneficiary of a number of property industry events including Cycle to Cannes, the Property Race Day, the Property Week Awards Dinner and the Rugby Legends Dinner. We are actively looking to become the beneficiary of further events. This year, for example, we have been chosen as the beneficiary of the Movers and Shakers Dinner and the Women in Property Awards Dinner
Thirdly, an increasing number of events or activities are being run by companies or individuals in support of LandAid (e.g. a company quiz night or participation in a marathon).
Grant Projects
What causes do you currently support ?
Our grant funding is currently split between our Major Projects programme (of which Foundations for Life is the first initiative) and our Annual Small Grants programme for single smaller projects (e.g. Canaan Trust, Nottingham - accommodation, life skills and career education for homeless).
What is the background to the Foundations for Life programme?
The Foundations for Life programme is a joint initiative in partnership with Centrepoint, the leading youth homelessness charity. The programme is designed to give young people a route out of exclusion into a sustainable, self-financing, independent life by offering training in general life and basic education skills, as well as providing support in gaining entry into work or educational/vocational training. LandAid is investing, currently in London and Birmingham, in the facilities, courses and expert staff that will enable the programme to be delivered successfully. We have so far committed more than £1million in support of the first five projects.
Communications / PR
How will you keep us informed of LandAid’s work and progress?
We achieve this primarily through the newly re-launched LandAid website and an e-newsletter, as well as through social media networks such as Twitter, Linked In and Facebook. We regard the giving of regular updates on our work and progress to our existing supporters and new Foundation Partners, and the active promotion of our work to prospective supporters, as a key priority. We also welcome feedback.
Governance
How is LandAid governed?
The charity is led by a Trustee Board made up of senior figures from the industry. Individual Trustees have board level responsibility for fundraising, grants, events, communications, governance, and finance.
Finance
How much does it cost to run LandAid?
The Board strictly limits the cost of running LandAid. The current cost is £250,000 (excluding the costs of running the two core LandAid events which have their own separate budget). Every effort is made to keep costs to a minimum through, for example, the use of secondments and other pro bono support. Office costs are subsidised by the British Property Federation, whose offices LandAid shares. No expenses are claimed by Trustees.
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