What Members Say
There are currently about 100 members of the Network, ranging widely in age. Some members are skilful and experienced at handling money: others are struggling to make sense of the implications or the practicalities. Some have full access to their wealth, while others are restricted in the use they can make of it. A number have set up their own charitable foundations. Occupations range from business, to the professions, to public and voluntary sector, to raising a family, to nothing in particular. Some members use their wealth to carry out unpaid work that they believe needs to be done.
"In the late 80s, I had built my business and was actively looking for an alternative to simply having standing orders to Oxfam and other large charities. I came across the Network For Social Change at a conference and liked the idea of having a closer connection to the smaller charities that were funded, the opportunity of meeting like-minded people, and the potential for being creative with my giving. I enjoy feeling that my relatively small donations become part of a bigger and more impactful contribution."
"It's been useful to explore how other people deal with personal issues around money: for instance, money and relationships, money and children, lending money, telling people about inherited wealth, and working for money when you don't need it. I feel so much less isolated now."
"Joining the Network for Social Change helped me stop feeling alone and overwhelmed with choices and demands. Then, membership speeded up my donations and made it possible to support so many more projects as part of a thoughtful group than as a named individual."
"Although the Network gives me a chance to reflect on how I make, spend and give away my money, it's never reflection in a vacuum - the fact that we are actively involved in funding good projects makes it very real, and gives me a purpose for my thinking."
"I love the breadth and inspiration of the Network Vision - working together to find initiatives that are at an early stage, changing, with the potential for moving to another level..."
"Having sold a business and wondered what to do with the next twenty years of my life, I joined Network which has opened windows and doors into a huge variety of opportunities and made my life immensely richer."