A Cornwall-headquartered tech company has secured a major cash boost from the British Business Bank.
The Kindness of Strangers, based in Torpoint, says it will use the £250,000 loan to help small charities and not-for-profits access digital fundraising tools previously reserved for bigger organisations.
The finance package, from the lender's South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager FSE Group, will also support the growth of the business.
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FSE has been working with The Kindness of Strangers since 2023 when it provided equity investment from the British Business Bank's Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund.
Since then, the business has completed the development of its platform for the Church of England, Cornerstone, which is now being used by more than 1,000 churches.
It has also developed a platform with the Parish Giving Scheme, which is now ready to be rolled out as a white-label product to small charities across all sectors.
Mathew Neville, chief executive of The Kindness of Strangers, said: "This new funding is a vital catalyst for our next phase of growth.
"It will enable us to expand our team and amplify our marketing efforts, ensuring that more small charities gain access to the technology and support they need.
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"As a young business that has focused heavily on technology development, traditional high-street lending isn’t a viable option. This South West Investment Fund loan provides the crucial financial backing to accelerate our mission."
Rob Ward, investment manager at The FSE Group, added: "The Kindness of Strangers has demonstrated impressive progress in developing platforms that truly address the needs of the non-profit sector.
"This loan will empower the business to scale its operations, strengthen internal capacity, and fully capitalise on the exciting opportunities ahead.
"We’re proud to support a company that is making technology accessible to smaller charities and helping them thrive."
The South West Investment Fund offers a range of commercial finance options, with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m.