For over 100 years, the John Lewis Partnership has set out to be a force for good. This principle is still alive and well within their business today.
Their Purpose promise “Working in Partnership for a Happier World” is not just a slogan, it is a deeply rooted commitment that acts as their guide, inspires their principles, and influences every decision they make.
How their giving journey started
The John Lewis Partnership is the UK’s largest employee-owned business. Started as an experiment by Founder, John Lewis, who believed there was a better way of doing business. So instead of being employees, people who work at John Lewis are owners and called partners.
Their strategy is to become a more sustainable and ethical business. They aim to create a kinder, fairer future for Partners, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which they operate, building strong and trusted relationships.
John Lewis Partnership have a charitable giving scheme that runs throughout their shops where customers can decide which community group receives the money. John Lewis Partnership’s financial support for good causes in this way amounts to over £500,000 a year.
TheGivingMachine begins working with John Lewis & Partners
Knowing the values and commitment John Lewis Partnership have, we were delighted to work with them, bringing two companies with a strong mindset of “doing good” together.
TheGivingMachine was founded in 2006 and John Lewis were one of the first retailers to join us on our “Giving” journey.
Since then, John Lewis have enabled us to give away over £150,000 to UK good causes in the form of free donations. These donations are generated from sales commissions paid by John Lewis when our supporters shop online.
In total more than 100,000 donations have been made by John Lewis which has impacted over 4,000 different good causes across the UK.
What our causes said
These causes have received donations from us, paid by John Lewis and this is what they said about these donations and the difference it makes to them.
“When faced with life shortening illness, death and bereavement, the people of the Highlands deserve the best possible care and support. At Highland Hospice, our ambition is to ensure they receive this. We provide all our services free of charge so TheGivingMachine donations help to make this possible”.
Britta Harder
Highland Hospice.
“Shrewsbury Music Therapy Unit offers music therapy at a subsidised rate to all our clients. TheGivingMachine donations help to make this possible as the charity is totally donation dependant”.
Sarah Jones
Shrewsbury Music Therapy Unit.
At TheGivingMachine, we offer all our services free to good causes and our vision is to see a world where all good causes can access regular, unrestricted funds to ensure their sustainable future. Without companies like John Lewis we would not be able to carry out our vision, the donations we receive from them allow us to support thousands of good causes. We believe that consumers, charities, and companies can thrive together to create a Giving Nation.
About the author
Luisa Gatward
Our Head of Operations, Luisa is responsible for the smooth running of all operations including marketing and partner relationships. Having started working for TheGivingMachine in 2010, she has seen our Charity grow and develop into what we have today.