HELLO WORLD: Why We Built Philanthrify (And What Comes Next)

Running a charity should be one of the most inspiring, fulfilling jobs in the world. But for many of us, it’s become one of the hardest.

Fundraising is getting more difficult. Trust is harder to earn. Reporting takes forever. And despite working on incredible life-changing projects, charities are constantly being asked to “prove” their impact in a way that’s often confusing, disconnected, and frankly… exhausting.

That’s exactly why we built Philanthrify.

A Disconnect That Wouldn’t Let Go

My journey started 17 years ago with a charity called Spotlight on Africa. Through the years I have travelled back and forth to Uganda to help build and operationalise clinics, schools, ICT centres, and community projects. It is the most rewarding and purposeful work of my life, and I am very passionate about the cause and its benefits to society.

But when I came home and spoke to friends and acquaintances about what we were doing, I was met with blank stares.
“How much of the money actually goes to those in need?”
“I give some money and never see where it goes”
“I trust your charity because I trust you, but I don't trust others”

The disconnect was shocking.

While we, the team on the ground, could see and feel the impact every day — the mothers receiving care, the kids (from slums) graduating school, the communities transformed — there were no tools that could show it. Not in a way that resonated with the people who made it all possible: the donors.

And the truth is, that gap is everywhere. Across the UK and beyond, incredible charities are doing amazing work, but struggling to:

• Prove their impact in real time
• Build and maintain trust with donors
• Connect authentically with supporters
• Manage data and reporting efficiently

It was recently found that 52% of the UK public distrust charities (CAF 2023 Giving Report), and in 2024, only 50% of people gave to charity, the lowest on record! (CAF 2025 Giving Report)

The problems in the sector go on. And not due to incompetence, but instead a result of resource and time prioritisation. When running a charity you are forced to spend as little as possible on admin and on the ‘how’ the impact is achieved. You must spend every penny on the end beneficiary otherwise be seen as “corrupt”. Don’t get me wrong, some “charities” are corrupt, spending only 5% on charitable activities, but most are just trying to do the best they can to make society and the planet a better place. 

This endless pursuit to minimise the "how impact is achieved" has led to poor data collection, data management, Project management and impact reporting across the industry. 

So we decided to build something that could change that.

Introducing Philanthrify

Philanthrify is a new kind of charity software: built to help you grow income by making the management of projects and connecting with your donors effortless.

We give charities one simple place to:

• Track spending and impact achieved in real-time
• Manage and monitor projects as they happen (all the data in one place)
• Share data clearly and at a personal level with donors and stakeholders
• Report automatically, without the chaos

We’re here to help you save time, tell your story, and fundraise smarter.

But we’re not just building software. We’re building support.

What’s Coming Next (And Why You Should Stick Around)

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of practical, insightful blog posts designed to help charity leaders like you:

• Rebuild donor trust
• Engage supporters on a deeper level
• Streamline data collection and clarity
• Simplify reporting for funders and boards
• Build a truly tech-enabled organisation

It’s the kind of guidance we wish we had years ago — and we’re giving it all away for free.

If you’re running a charity with growing demands and limited tools, we see you. This is for you.

Let’s Build This Together

We believe that when trust is high and impact is visible, donors give more and charities thrive.

We’re on a mission to help charities increase Income by building Trust through Transparency. To make your work as inspiring to others as it is to you. And to help you prove, share, and scale your impact — without burning out.

If that sounds like something you want to be part of, we’d love for you to join us.

📬 Subscribe to get the blog series and free tools in your inbox.
🌐 Visit us at www.philanthrify.co.uk
📞 Get in touch any time to chat, demo, or share your challenges. (Email: hello@philanthrify.co.uk)

This isn’t just about technology. It’s about making sure good work gets the support it deserves.

Talk soon,

Tomos Rees
Co-Founder & CEO, Philanthrify