Tuesday 7 November 2006

A MAJOR INDEPENDENT WEBSITE which judges and ranks charities launches tuesday.

One and a half years in the making, Intelligent Giving - www.intelligentgiving.com - presents over 500 charities in the same way that consumer magazines cover restaurants, cars or mortgages.

Managing Editor Dave Pitchford used to work at the News of the World and has applied a tabloid approach to a traditionally dull area. "The site is a consumer site," he says. "It's not dull and worthy - it's immensely practical, interesting and there's plenty of humour."

Charities are ranked by the quality of their annual reports as well as by their approach to ethical investments, the money they have in the bank, and their top salary. Visitors can also see the amounts spent on administration and fundraising presented in a user-friendly way.

The site boasts the country's first charity shop reviewer (Alain De B'Argain), a 'Karma Calculator', plus advice on where to give things away and a roundup of the best charity credit cards. For the more curious, every week the site offers short articles written by charity experts.

E-businessman Peter Heywood financed the site. Heywood, 60, says: "Donors want to know how one charity compares with another so they can feel confident that they're spending their money wisely. Intelligent Giving helps them do that quickly and easily," says Heywood.

"Up until now, publishing comparisons of charities has been taboo," he adds. "That hasn't been helpful to donors, charities or beneficiaries. It's just created a fog of mystery which makes some people more cynical than generous."

Pitchford says, "Intelligent Giving is a one-stop shop for anyone remotely interested in where their charitable donations go. It's also a fun read"

Ends

> Contact us [0]
> Press office [0]