James Reed: all about business 50. How to spot a charity that's a red flag (and how to give smarter) | John Spiers
Oct 27, 2025
In this discussion, John Spiers, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, shares insights on building purpose-led businesses with client-first cultures. He reveals how EQ Investors, founded on a unique structure, achieved top B Corp status. John emphasizes the importance of measurable charity impact and provides guidance on identifying effective organizations, including pitfalls like declining income and stagnant boards. He also introduces his platform, Giving Is Great, which helps match donors with high-impact charities, advocating for smarter philanthropic strategies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How Giving Is Great Found City Harvest
- Giving Is Great started by combining public charity and grants data into a searchable tool to find effective local charities.
- The platform uncovered organisations like City Harvest that John would not have found otherwise.
Watch Financial Signals And Board Health
- Flag late account filings, declining income, or persistent deficits as reasons for further due diligence.
- Check board composition for diversity and periodic refresh to ensure new ideas and governance.
Complexity Keeps Wealthy Donors Back
- Many wealthy people give little because philanthropy feels hard and risky, not because they lack resources.
- Simplifying discovery and due diligence could unlock much more effective giving.
