Free digital initiative offers charities e-commerce training and support

Charity Connect Helps Organisations Get Set Up With E-Commerce

eBay’s new training programme, Charity Connect, will begin on Tuesday 7th July with a series of free weekly webinars for new and existing charity sellers on how to make the most of the eBay for Charity platform.

The training programme will help charities of all sizes raise more money through more effective online sales and is suitable for any charitable organisation looking to e-commerce as a viable income stream for the charity.

"At eBay, we have continued to read with great concern the impact that Covid19 is having on the charity sector, both in terms of raising much-needed funds and on delivering the increased need for the essential services that the charity sector in the UK provides. We are delighted to be able to announce financial support of £1.7 million to 250 of our eBay charity retail partners who have seen a significant income drop since the pandemic hit.

We are also announcing an ambitious training programme, Charity Connect. Open to the entire sector, the programme is aimed at enabling charities with an existing e-commerce presence to optimise their digital fundraising offer and encouraging new charities to develop their own online fundraising through the platform.

eBay has always been about levelling the playing field – making online buying and selling open and accessible to anyone no matter their background, financial power or geography. Millions of people around the world already depend on eBay for their livelihoods and that includes thousands of charities who currently sell through our platform and raise much needed unrestricted funds. We know how important these unrestricted funds are to enable charities to serve communities and to innovate.

Charity Connect will launch in July and will offer a range of training to help charities build an effective online presence through dedicated customer service, onboarding assistance, promotional support and a tailored eBay training programme.

It has been said so many times over the last few months that Covid19 is going to change the world in so many ways. The way we work and live is changing rapidly and without consistent and focused action the gap between those with the power to participate, and those that don’t, will continue to grow. Social and economic inclusion must be at the heart of the rebuilding job after Covid19 and all the incredible work that our charity sector does across the UK is essential in providing the support and driving the systemic changes that we all want to see."

- Rob Hattrell, Vice President at eBay UK

How it works

Charity Connect webinars provide charities with all the necessary information and skills to build an effective online presence through dedicated customer service, onboarding assistance, promotional support and a tailored eBay training programme.

The training will be followed up with 1:1 sessions with e-commerce experts.