Harnessing Data for Social Good
Since 2012, Sainsbury’s Data Philanthropy Programme has connected analysts from across Sainsbury’s, Nectar360, Argos, and Sainsbury’s Bank with nonprofit organisations tackling food insecurity and social mobility. The Giving Department has been a key partner in expanding the programme’s reach, ensuring that more charities benefit from this unique initiative.
Often, charities collect vast amounts of data but lack the technical expertise to turn numbers into meaningful insights. Each year, the initiative culminates in a hackathon-style event where analysts work directly with nonprofit teams to build tools and insights that have an immediate and lasting impact.
In 2024, we helped Sainsbury’s recruit and engage seven charities with high-impact potential, bringing together over 100 analysts and charity representatives to collaborate. The programme delivered 560 hours of expert support. Charities received three dashboards, four models, UK regional rankings, maps, pivot tables, and insights. Example projects included:
Optimizing food delivery routes: A charity addressing food insecurity used data modeling to improve driver routes. More efficient deliveries helped them serve more clients and make better use of volunteers.
Enhancing mentorship programmes: Analysts examined survey data to identify key factors in successful mentor-mentee matches. Their insights improved the charity’s matching process and strengthened the programme’s impact.
The programme is also a valuable development opportunity for Sainsbury’s analysts. They apply their skills for social good while gaining leadership, problem-solving, and cross-team collaboration experience. Working with colleagues across the business strengthens internal relationships and breaks down silos, all while making a real impact.
The Giving Department’s support has been invaluable in growing the Data Philanthropy programme. Their expertise in engaging charities and facilitating meaningful partnerships has helped us make a real impact year after year.
This initiative is a powerful example of how businesses can drive social change by sharing what they do best. By investing in skill-based volunteering, Sainsbury’s is not only deepening its commitment to corporate responsibility but also fostering a culture of engagement and innovation within its workforce. With demand for the programme growing year after year—from both analysts eager to participate and charities seeking support—its impact is set to expand even further, proving that data can be a force for good in more ways than one.
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Director
Steve has spent over 20 years in the charity sector. As a successful fundraiser Steve worked for a number of charities in senior roles most latterly as Head of Fundraising at The Prince’s Trust. This experience has given Steve a deep understanding of how companies and private funders can best support charities, how effective relationships can be developed, where value can be delivered and how the right support can deliver genuine and long-lasting change. Steve founded The Giving Department in 2010 with the clear vision of providing expert independent resource to help companies and philanthropists deliver real social impact and achieve their greatest charitable ambitions. Over the subsequent years Steve has developed the business, working with an increasingly wide portfolio of clients from FTSE100 companies to corporate foundations and private HNW philanthropists. Passionate about the sector, Steve is often called to speak on charitable issues and on occasions provides bespoke mentoring to help individuals build capability and impact.
steve@thegivingdepartment.com
+44 (0) 207 680 6587
