£1 million out of nowhere

On Saturday £1 million was donated to small charities by 200 normal people. How?

That's the total of four years of group giving by The Funding Network. Congratulations to founder and philosophising philanthropist Fred Mulder.

The Funding Network costs £60 to join and holds four events a year. Events work like this:

1. Members watch live presentations from small charities for six minutes
2. They quiz the presenters for another six
3. They each pledge £100 upwards in a theatrical bidding session

The members are generous because:

• Each charity is sponsored by a member who has a personal link to it and who has to pitch in the first £250
• The charities are vetted by a members' committee
• The charities are small and you are usually hearing from the people who set them up
• There's gentle peer pressure to give
• No big charities, foundations or government departments muddy the water

It's a social occasion, always educative, frequently emotional, often entertaining.

Anyone in striking distance of London, Glasgow, Cambridge or Bristol can join.