Toucan brings charity sector expertise on board with Steve Wilks appointment
Toucan has reaffirmed its aim to modernise charitable giving by appointing founding director of fintech company For Good Causes, Steve Wilks, as an advisor to its board
The recently launched app, which has already breathed fire into cause-led giving, will benefit from Wilks’s expertise in corporate and charity sectors
Having recently featured on BBC Dragons’ Den, Toucan has taken flight with a growing user base wanting to show the world what they stand for.
London, UK – Charitable donation app Toucan has strengthened its credentials with the appointment of Steve Wilks as a Board Advisor to the company. Wilks brings over 30 years of experience in both the corporate world and the charity sector to Toucan, as it seeks to build a world where giving is second nature.
Fintech start-up Toucan launched its app on 8 February, officially beginning its quest to re-define charitable giving and make donating fun, flexible and accessible. Since then, the company has appeared on BBC Dragons’ Den, receiving offers from all five Dragons before securing investment from new Dragon Steven Bartlett.
Through his new position with the fledgling business, Wilks will offer invaluable expertise as the company embarks on its altruistic vision. His impressive CV includes a combined 25 years working within Product Development and Sales at Experian, Accenture, and VISA. During this time, he became increasingly involved in the charity sector, where he witnessed first-hand the infrastructural disparities between the corporate and charity sector, from resources, funding, skills, and manpower.
He sought to bring the assets of the corporate sector to bear in amplifying the positive work of the charity sector, to the mutual benefit of each. This led him to make a dramatic career change in 2015, leaving VISA to establish For Good Causes, a start-up that enabled consumers to donate loyalty points and rewards to the charitable organisations closest to their hearts.
He has since expanded his work within the charity sector and now provides commercial leadership to Mental Health Mates and the Rosie May Foundation. Wilks is also a mentor for the School for Social Entrepreneurs. Determined to create opportunities for people to make a difference, he sees Toucan as an opportunity to further this ambition.
A combination of corporate and charity experience positions him perfectly to help Toucan take flight following its public launch, as the company sets out to revolutionise the charitable giving space with an innovative digital solution.
Steve Wilks, Board Advisor for Toucan, said: “There are big gaps in the charitable donation infrastructure in this country that make it quite challenging for people to give money to good causes. This is a problem that must be solved. Matt Crate and the team at Toucan are actively doing this by simplifying the act of donation – a positive step in the right direction. The reality is that nearly all of us rely on charities in some way pretty much all the time. As the role of charities is pivotal, we must find ways to get more money into them. I believe Toucan can play a part in making this change and that’s why I’m proud to be playing a role in its development.”
Matt Crate, CEO of Toucan, added: “Securing a Board Advisor with Steve’s insight, wealth of experience and credibility within the charity sector is exciting for us. Steve’s support will guide us as we grow Toucan in a bid to become the chosen way to give. He recognises the urgent societal need for innovation and revolution in the charity space to make donating more accessible. We’re confident that with him in the Toucan nest, we will make a big impact.”
Download the Toucan app from either the App Store or Google Play
