Celebrating People’s Postcode Lottery’s impact on grantmaking
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For over two decades, People’s Postcode Lottery has been a quiet revolutionary in the world of grantmaking. While many know us for the thrilling anticipation of a winning postcode, our true heart beats in the incredible stories of transformation made possible by our players. We’re immensely proud to look back and celebrate the profound impact we’ve had, raising over £1.5 billion of vital funds for thousands of charities and good causes across Great Britain and beyond.
It all started with a simple idea: that where you live should have a positive ripple effect beyond your own doorstep. By playing People’s Postcode Lottery, our players are not just in with a chance to win fantastic prizes; they are directly contributing to a movement that’s raising over £19 million a month for charities distributed through 20 Postcode Trusts. That’s an astonishing figure, reflecting the collective power of community and a shared desire to make a difference.
Understanding our model
We are often asked why there are 20 Postcode Trusts. People’s Postcode Lottery manages lotteries for 20 Postcode Trusts. UK gambling regulations include a £50m annual sales limit on charity lotteries which means funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery cannot be distributed through one grantmaking trust, but instead is allocated through 20 draws per month to 20 independent trusts. This structure allows Postcode Lottery players to support a wide range of charitable causes effectively.
Each trust is an independent charity in its own right, licensed by the Gambling Commission and with its own volunteer board of trustees. Before the annual sales cap was raised from £10m to £50m in 2020, in order to comply with the limits, we managed lotteries directly for individual charities. These charities all still benefit from support from our players, but no longer need to have their own charity lottery licence to do so, as they are awarded instead through one of our Postcode Trusts. As you can see, since the limit changed from £10m to £50m, there has been a rapid growth in the amounts distributed through the Postcode Trusts.
Beyond regulatory compliance, this multi-trust model serves as a strategic framework for our grantmaking. Each of the 20 trusts has a distinct mission or theme. For example, there are trusts dedicated to:
- Animal welfare (e.g., Postcode Animal Trust) 🐾
- Environmental conservation (e.g., Postcode Earth Trust) 🌳
- Health and wellbeing (e.g., Postcode Care Trust) ❤️
- International aid (e.g., Postcode International Trust) 🌍
There are also six Trusts focused on small charities and other grassroots good causes. These open multiple times a year for applications, and each supports charities in a different area of Great Britain. This thematic and geographical approach ensures that funds are channelled to a diverse array of causes working across hundreds of different postcodes, reflecting the interests of players. The decisions on fund allocation are made by the trustees of each individual trust, providing a layer of independent oversight and expertise.
More Than Just Money: The Power of Flexible Funding
One of the cornerstones of People’s Postcode Lottery’s approach is provision of flexible, unrestricted and long-term funding. We understand that charities, particularly smaller and grassroots organisations, often struggle to cover essential running costs, innovate, or respond quickly to emerging needs. Traditional grantmaking can sometimes be rigid, but we believe in empowering organisations to use funds where they are most needed.
This flexibility has been a game-changer. It means a local food bank can pay for essential running costs, a mental health charity can invest in new training for its staff, or a wildlife conservation group can purchase vital equipment without having to fit into a predefined box. And our long-term commitment enables charities to plan and develop sustainable initiatives. This trust-based approach fosters resilience and allows charities to focus on what they do best: serving their communities.
Our grantmaking touches lives in every postcode in Great Britain. We’ve supported thousands of organisations, from tiny volunteer-led initiatives to well-known national charities. The diversity of causes funded is a testament to the myriad challenges and opportunities within our society.
The Ripple Effect: Beyond the Initial Grant
The impact of People’s Postcode Lottery funding extends far beyond the initial grant. It acts as a catalyst, enabling charities to leverage further funding, attract more volunteers, and expand their reach. A small grant can often be the spark that ignites a much larger project, leading to sustainable change and lasting benefits for countless individuals.
We’ve seen many examples of this ripple effect. A grant for a new community garden might lead to a surge in local volunteers, a space for educational workshops, and a source of fresh produce for local residents. It’s about creating an ecosystem of support, where every contribution helps to cultivate a more compassionate and resilient society.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Grantmaking
As we celebrate these achievements, we also look to the future with optimism and a continued commitment to evolving our approach to grantmaking. After all, we have a responsibility to ensure our players’ funds are used in the best and most effective way, which requires agility and flexibility to respond to changing demands and expectations. We need to listen, learn and collaborate more, just as we demand from our partners, while ensuring that we ask why before we ask for our charities to deliver more.
We are incredibly grateful to our players, without whom none of this would be possible. Every ticket purchased contributes to this extraordinary collective effort, transforming lives and communities
At People’s Postcode Lottery, we believe in the power of postcodes to make a difference. Our journey has been a testament to that belief, and we look forward to many more years of supporting the incredible work of charities and good causes. Here’s to a future filled with even more positive change, made possible by the simple act of playing and the profound power of community.
See the Postcode Trusts analysis in the latest edition of UKGrantmaking.
People’s Postcode Lottery grants data published using the 360Giving Data Standard is available on GrantNav.