

BD Giving’s approach to investment is designed to give local people control over how money is generated, distributed and invested in their area. With funding from the Connect Fund, we will not only go deeper into Barking and Dagenham, we will also encourage and support other communities to build their own community-led investments.
The funding will enable BD Giving to continue collaborating with The Curiosity Society who have been fundamental to developing local capacity for participation in fund design. Together, we will work alongside three new locations and build the tools to re-imagine financial decision-making in even more places.
Democratising money to transform lives and communities
What’s next for Barking & Dagenham?
About Barking & Dagenham Giving
Barking & Dagenham Giving (BD Giving) is a non-profit organisation that equips the community of Barking and Dagenham with the tools, resources and knowledge it needs to drive positive change and make a lasting impact in the borough. Founded in July 2020 after a year of incubation, we are inspired by the dedication and response of the social sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and the community’s ability to self-organise and lead. Our goal is to create a collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable borough where all residents feel they have a say in shaping their neighbourhood. Instead of providing direct services, we support and collaborate with local groups and individuals to address challenges such as poverty, inequality and civic disengagement.
We prioritise inclusivity and participation in all of our projects. To distribute funding, we either work with a small group of trusted organisations to make allocation decisions, or we involve individual community members as decision-makers. We strive to push the boundaries of traditional decision-making processes and rebuild agency, opportunities, and trust within our community.
About The Curiosity Society
To support learning around financial systems, BD Giving partnered with The Curiosity Society, a community benefit society and learning partner to the Access Foundation for the past 5 years. They bring a creative approach to de-mystifying financial knowledge, and strong learning and evaluation credentials. They have experience across sectors, having helped funders evaluate their own financial systems.
About Connect Fund
