Some weeks are busy or even chaotic. Every now and then, you get a week that stops you in your tracks a bit, the kind that quietly reminds you why you believe in the work you do, and why you’ll keep pushing until things genuinely change.
This week was one of those. I spoke with three separate people from different charities, all doing totally different things, yet all had something unmistakably similar about them.
Genuine enthusiasm. No hidden agenda. No ego. Just people who care deeply about the communities they serve.
And it got me thinking about what that says about our sector, and why I’m more determined than ever to bring the charity world and the corporate world together in a way that actually means something.
The Conversations That Stuck With Me
On paper, it was just three meetings.
But each one left me with that same feeling; an appreciation for how many talented, committed people work in the third sector. They quietly get on with things and try to make life a little better for the people they support.
In one meeting, one person spoke about a project they’d been building for months with barely any budget, relying mostly on community goodwill.
Another talked about the pressure of trying to increase unrestricted funding, the kind of money that actually allows charities to breathe, plan, and grow, while feeling like every day is another juggling act.
And another told me about an event they’d run that brought a room full of strangers together, and somehow turned it into a moment of connection that will stay with those people for years.
All three conversations had their own story and their own challenges, but the thread was obviously a genuine passion for making a difference. That’s the bit people often underestimate.
The Realisation
Walking away from those conversations, I realised there are so many brilliant people in this sector, but the system around them doesn’t always make it easy for them to do what they do best.
They’re talented, committed, problem-solvers, organisers, community builders, and changemakers. But too often, they’re expected to stretch resources that shouldn’t be stretched and carry responsibilities that should be shared.
And that’s where I feel most strongly about Machto and what we’re trying to do, as there is a huge opportunity to support these people properly by engaging more meaningfully with the corporate world. And not in a tick-box CSR kind of way, in a genuine partnership kind of way.
Because when we connect both sides properly, everybody benefits.
Why This Reinforced My Determination
Every time I speak with charity leaders, I’m reminded of why unrestricted funding matters so much.
It’s not just about money.
It’s breathing room, I’m talking more time, stability, the ability to plan for longer than the next quarter, and the freedom to respond to real needs rather than chasing the next restricted pot because it happens to be open.
And that’s exactly why Payroll Giving and corporate partnerships are so powerful. They create long-term, low-friction, sustainable income that keeps people and projects afloat long after the initial excitement of a fundraising push wears off.
What I want, genuinely, is to help bring that to more charities. And to show businesses just how much good they can do, not by adding more work for themselves, but by choosing a simple, high-impact way to contribute.
This week’s conversations didn’t just remind me of the goal. They lit the fire again.
What It Means for the Corporate World
When businesses get involved properly real change happens.
Staff feel more connected. Teams feel proud of where they work.Communities feel supported.
And the company becomes part of something bigger than KPIs and quarterly reports.
But it has to be meaningful!
What I’ve realised is that companies actually want to help. They just don’t always know how, or they think it has to be complicated. It doesn’t.
Sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from something simple, consistent, and structured, something like Payroll Giving, or a well-planned event day that brings people together and supports a cause that matters.
What Question I’m Left Thinking About
How do we make it easier for more people in the corporate world to meet the brilliant humans who work in the third sector, and see what I see?
Because if more businesses could experience even one of the conversations I had this week, I think everything would shift.
They’d see the talent, feel the energy, and understand the impact. Additionally, they’d realise how much good could be done simply by working together in a more intentional way.
That’s the question that will probably shape my next few months.
The Week in One Line
If I had to sum it up?
Three conversations reminded me that this sector is full of brilliant, passionate people, and that the more we can bring the corporate world into that energy, the more lives we can change together.
And that’s work worth being determined about.
Mark O’Brien
