A million-making year for ACT in 2024
Once again, ACT has had a milestone-making year – making a difference to communities and causes connected to colleagues right around the world.
Hitting the £1million mark through two of our core funding programmes; surpassing the goal set for our global partner, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF); welcoming a new group of young Bright Future Prize stars; and an incredible Give Back.
Here’s just some of the highlights from an incredible year of charitable action and impact…
Million pound match funding
Throughout the year, colleagues take part in a whole range of fundraising challenges and events for chosen causes, with ACT adding to their totals by up to £500 through our match funding scheme.
2024 has been truly record breaking, with a 50% increase in the number of colleagues ACT has boosted. In total, colleagues raised £400,000+ which ACT added to with a further £157,000+ to take 2024’s total to well over £550,000.
As a result, since ACT’s inception, more than £1.5million has been raised for over 500 different causes – a magnificent milestone to reach and all through our people's efforts!
Here’s a montage of just some of our colleagues' match funding moments!
Million milestone in grants
Carrying on the trend, 2024 has also led to new heights for the ACT Community Grant programme, with a total of £216,000 awarded to 50 projects nominated by colleagues stretching from Brazil to Australia.
Adding 2024 to the overall grant total to-date leads to another mega-milestone, with now over £1million having been donated through over 240 ACT grants in support of 220+ causes.
This total is more than a figure, it represents impact in countries and communities around the world and making a lasting difference through a range of means – whether mental health, sport, cancer care, green spaces, community hubs and so many more.
ACT's grant programme runs on a quarterly basis, with all Ardonagh employees able to nominate a chosen cause with a project in need of funding for up to £5,000 (or equivalent currency).
We couldn’t help but share again this wonderful video from Rio de Janeiro, where an ACT grant enabled the expansion of a community beach football charity – bringing new free sporting sessions to young people in the city.
Bright Future Prize stars shine
With the recent launch of Bright Future Prize 2025, we reflect on the past three years of the youth bursary prize, which have now led to a network of over 30 former finalists and winners representing seven countries around the world.
What started as a UK-based competition in 2021 has evolved into a truly international opportunity to support aspiring young community leaders – and investing in their bright ideas to make a difference.
With £140,000+ already awarded to young people, we can’t wait to see who will win a share of the £40,000 prize fund through the 2025 prize. Look out for the finalists being announced at the end of January!
Gifting time
Giving back isn’t about fund alone. Time and skills are vital resources to enable charities to continue their work. Many of our colleagues donate theirs through volunteering, taking part in charity events, and getting stuck in with the causes that matter to them. In 2024, we almost doubled the number of volunteering hours tracked in 2023.
In August, ACT joined Joe and the Ardonagh Specialty team to volunteer at Whitechapel Mission, a homelessness charity just around the corner from the London office. Watch the video to find out just what it’s like to cook breakfast for over 150 people at 5.30am!
Give Back goes global for MSF
We kicked off 2024 with the announcement of a new global partnership with international humanitarian charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Over the year, we’ve fundraised for MSF, but the stand-out moment had to be Give Back in September, where together with Ardonagh colleagues around the world over £74,000 was raised.
As a result of all this activity, we’ve surpassed our ambitious goal of £100,000 to raise £140,000 for MSF – which translates to building and kitting out three inflatable hospitals, including the building structure, surgery kits, wound dressing supplies, antibiotics and oxygen. The impact of the money goes far beyond the medical aid it enables, but also the lives, families and communities it touches.
We will be continuing our partnership with MSF into 2025 and can’t wait to do even more to support their humanitarian work across the globe.
Making a difference year-round
ACT is here no matter what the time of year to support Ardonagh colleagues worldwide to give back bigger and better to the causes close to their hearts through our grant programme, match funding, and much more.
Follow ACT on Instagram and Facebook @ardonaghct
Contact the ACT team using info@ardonaghtrust.org
