What could you achieve through Private Philanthropy?

Philanthropists we have worked with tell us that working with VSO is a rewarding experience.

“The VSO approach is the only one that works, working with the system and being part of the process of change, you see that you are making a difference”
Sue Howes, volunteered with VSO in Uganda in the late 1960s and continues to support our work there.

“Supporting the Million Hours Fund along with other philanthropists has increased the impact I’ve been able to make to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. As a group of individual supporters pooling our resources, we’ve been able to champion the benefits of national volunteering as an effective and sustainable development intervention. Working with VSO ensures that all the projects supported are designed according to the belief that people are the best agents of change; the Million Hours Fund experience allows donors to get really close to projects in education, health and improving livelihoods in Africa and Asia.”
John Bason, Finance Director of ABF, Hon. Treasurer of VSO, and founding member of the Million Hours Fund

• Donors to the Million Hours Fund are helping to mobilise national volunteers in India, Tanzania, Mozambique and Tajikistan to address key issues in their communities such as preventing the spread of HIV, improving poor sanitation provision and increasing access to work.
• Other work directly supported by philanthropists includes a youth livelihoods project in post-conflict Northern Uganda where VSO is working in the fragile districts of Gulu and Lira to equip more than 600 young people with the skills they need to achieve gainful employment and live independent constructive lives in their communities. Watch a film to learn more about the project.

Bringing philanthropy to life

Whether it is helping people in particular countries in which we work, or whether you wish to target support in programme of our education, health and livelihoods work, we take time to understand your needs.

For supporters who want to be more deeply involved with our work, we offer project visits; meetings with our leadership team and programme staff; regular reports from the field; the chance to meet with other supporters as well as regular feedback about the impact of your generosity has had in practical terms.

With Gift Aid, VSO can make your gift go much further at no extra cost to you. Find out how

Want to know more

We want to help you get the most out of your gift. If you would like to know more about making a major gift to VSO, the Private Philanthropy Team would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Jane Quayle 020 8780 7412 or Lydia Raw on 020 8780 7592.