Why partner with Genetic Alliance UK
Genetic Alliance UK proudly partners with a very wide range of corporate partners across different projects and campaigns. Whether it’s through our Rare Disease UK campaign, our SWAN UK family support network or our ongoing policy and research work, or anything else, there’s a perfect partnership waiting for you through our charity.
We lead the biggest alliance of genetic, rare and undiagnosed communities in the UK, and have over 35 years of experience in working with organisations of all sizes and backgrounds. By partnering with Genetic Alliance UK, you enter a unique opportunity to support our work across over 300 charities and patient groups.
We understand that each partnership is different. This is why we ensure that our work in partnership with corporate supporters offers true value on both sides. By supporting Genetic Alliance UK, you can get tangible and intangible benefits, such as boosted staff morale, a strong demonstration of corporate social responsibility, and potentially the chance to network with our connections within the genetic, rare and undiagnosed community.
Recent corporate partners
- St Andrews Charity Fashion Show, supporting Genetic Alliance UK
- Pigment Productions, supporting SWAN UK
- Aneurin Bevan Health Board, supporting SWAN UK
- P4A, supporting Rare Disease UK
- Domestic Appliances Sudbury LTD, supporting Rare Disease UK
- TSL, supporting Rare Disease UK
How your company or organisation can support us
There’s lots of different ways to get involved in fundraising and raising awareness for Genetic Alliance UK. Whether you run a company yourself or you’re part of an organisation, you can make a massive difference in the lives of people with a genetic, rare or undiagnosed condition.
Charity of the Year partner
Charity of the Year partnerships can be very powerful – enabling organisations to fundraise all-year for a specific charity. Businesses often select a charity as their chosen one for the year often due to a personal connection through an employee.
If you or your employer has a Charity of the Year programme, get in touch to hear how we can support your Charity of the Year programme – from meeting your company’s key performance indicators to achieving Corporate and Social Responsibility goals, we can work together to create a programme that works for you.
Corporate donation
A company may choose to make a one-off donation, fund an entire project or make a regular gift. You can also ask your employer about match fundraising, where your employer pledges to match whatever you fundraise for us in your own efforts as a top-up donation.
Companies differ in the way they choose to offer Matched Giving. For example, they might agree to match your fundraising pound for pound or agree a fixed amount to donate up front.
Companies involved in Matched Giving are eligible to receive tax relief on the donations they give, so it’s great for Corporate Social Responsibility activities, too.
Some companies may use an external company such as Benevity to manage their philanthropic giving and matching, and we are registered with them.
Event sponsorship
Genetic Alliance UK runs two national awareness days each year, Rare Disease Day in February and Undiagnosed Children’s Day in April, as well as a series of information and awareness talks and seminars for individuals and healthcare professionals in the genetic, rare and undiagnosed communities.
If you would like to explore sponsoring an event or series of events and create a positive brand association for your organisation, please get in touch.
Employee fundraising
Fundraising events with colleagues can increase team spirit, boost morale and motivate your employees.
From taking part in group challenge events, such as a half marathon, hike or an obstacle race to activities such as lunchtime bake-offs, raffles or dress down days, there are lots of fantastic ways to support our work.
Donate through your salary – Payroll Giving
Payroll Giving enables employees to give to charities straight from their pay, before tax is taken. This effectively increases the value of each donation.
Your company can set up a Payroll Giving Scheme for free, no matter how many employees you have. All you need to do is sign a contract with an HMRC-approved Payroll Giving Agency, and employees will be able to donate directly to any charity of their choice through their salary.
Payroll Giving is a tax-efficient way for your employees to support their favourite causes and enhances your Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
You can advertise the impact of your Scheme through the Payroll Giving Quality Mark – when just one percent of your employees are signed up you will receive a Bronze Award. This goes all the way up to a Platinum Award when you reach 30 percent enrolment.
If you are particularly proud of your employees’ commitment to Payroll Giving you can even apply for a National Payroll Giving Excellence Award.
Payroll Giving schemes are very low cost for companies, but Payroll Giving Agencies do charge a small administration fee. This can either be deducted from the employees’ donations or covered by the employer – in which case it is a tax-deductible expense.
Setting up and promoting Payroll Giving schemes will also require staff time.
Pro bono and gift in kind support
Corporate support does not have to be financial. You can also donate your time, space or services, which can help build a positive brand association for your organisation as well as being a great opportunity for staff development.
In 2024, as we launch our new five-year strategy, we are very interested in hearing from companies who can support us with Press, PR and Marketing support, as well as those who can connect us with potential brand ambassadors to help share our work and the impact our work has on the rare, genetic and undiagnosed sphere.
Dexter Copeland, TSL (Topek Southern Ltd)We supported Rare Disease UK as this campaign holds a special place in my heart as my nephew Bodhi suffers from hereditary multiple exostosis (HME). HME is a rare genetic bone condition often passed down to a child by one parent, but it can also be caused by a genetic mutation, meaning it can occur on its own by a change. The gene for HME produces a protein that affects bone growth and development, causing bony growths called exostoses. With less than 1,000 children in the UK with this condition, there is limited information or support for families.
The Rare Disease UK campaign aims to bring about lasting change, offering better health and quality of life for individuals and families affected by rare diseases such as HME and we dedicated 12 months of charity campaigning to raise as much as possible for this valuable cause. Their values and incredible work they do deserve the highest of praise and, we hope, financial support to further increase the amount of good they can do for those in the UK.
Contact our Corporate Partnerships team
If you’d like to learn more, support our work, or have a question, then don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].