TVF's key principle is relative to its cost base. Full details can be found at http://www.paytowork.org. TVF strives to offer the Corporate Sector and high net worth individuals an unparalleled service at zero cost. All of TVF's practices are centered on this objective; from having a professional organisation to submitting excellent evaluation reports.

From 2004, seed and start-up capital was invested by TVF's founders to establish TVF's position in the charity value chain. A commitment has been made never to claim this investment back from TVF and it will be viewed as a donation. Into 2011, TVF had over 100 projects and True Volunteers and had impacted over 110,000 people across 28 countries in the preceding 12 month period.

TVF would ideally prefer a zero cost base. However, to be an open and transparent organisation, it is important that TVF pays certain costs from its own funds. These costs include financial auditing costs and membership fees to regulating associations (i.e. Institute of Fundraising). In recent years, the cost based has been approximately £1,000 per annum. However, this is expected to raise to over £3,000 in 2011 as TVF has been donated its first office in Soho, London. TVF's Strategy Team is considering gaining Core Funding to pay unavoidable costs which come hand in hand with managing a large office. This will not change TVF's core principle to its donors - that every penny donated will go to the end beneficiary. TVF will consider taking on one full-time member of staff to manage its wide ranging activities. If this materialises TVF will not have a near zero cost base.

TVF mandates that our partners do not use TVF funding toward non-project expenses such as administration, marketing and commissions. Project expenses, which are allocated towards a builder or to hire a project manager, are accepted. True Volunteers will work with the charity partner, review their proposal and feedback costings estimates. Feedback results have been amazing re what can be achieved if these non-project costs are eliminated from the equation.

The feedback from the Corporate sector is that the TVF is an ideal partner for the following reasons:

i) real hand-holding through the Corporate Giving process
ii) tailor-made projects (i.e. involving employees in the corporate giving process)
iii) full feedback on each project, irrespective of the value
iv) a professional organisation with corporate experience
v) a valued service with no charge

TVF consists of True Volunteers who want to give something back. True Volunteers give their time and pay their own expenses. By offering a free service TVF aims to awaken the corporate sector to think more about Corporate Social Responsibility. TVF is socially motivated and does not have revenues or profits as a driving force behind its activities.

Scalability. We have proven our principles work. Our projects have touched so many people but it means we have to continually improve our processes/practices and recruit more True Volunteers to ensure TVF scales effectively.

TVF believes there is a huge potential within the Charity Sector. Nearly half of the 161,000 estimated UK registered charities have revenues of less than £10,000. However, many of these can be empowered to achieve more with additional resources. Why should TVF reinvent the wheel when it can leverage existing small charities with similar values/principles and intern build capacity for the betterment of the charity sector. TVF does implement a small number of projects directly but prefer to create "Joint-Venture" projects with small grassroots organisations.

A typical partner is a registered and regulated charity or small local grassroots organisation with revenues of under £250,000. We have found there are numerous non-government organisations which can provide TVF with excellent implementation capability across the globe. Many of these organisations need support in fundraising and other resources (i.e. Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation support) and agree not to deduct any wages, commissions or personal expenses from the funding received.

True Volunteer's undertake a strict and methodical vetting process with our Charity Partners. Once approved, a project valued typically at a few hundred pounds is undertaken, before larger projects are scheduled following positive project evaluation. An ongoing vetting process occurs via "TVF's Charity Partner Accreditation Process.

Legal agreements are drawn up by Dundas & Wilson LLP, a major legal firm in the U.K. All charities need to engage in a legally binding agreement before any funds can be remitted. All agreements are subject to English law. The majority of charity partners also are members of registered bodies (i.e. Charity Commission) whom TVF can approach during cases of foul play.

TVF has a global infrastructure to allow completion of projects anywhere in the world. Partners exist in many countries, but not all. Saying that, it is not unusual for a donor to request projects in a country that TVF has not worked in before and for TVF to use its Charity Partner Database and extensive informal network to accredit a new partner.

TVF's history has been in the developing world. However, the majority of True Volunteers and Corporate Donors are in the U.K. Therefore, by 2012, TVF project that 30-40% of all activities will be in the UK. Already TVF has a number of project working with the unemployed, disadvantaged communities and differently-abled children in the U.K.

This exists at a number of different levels:

i) To regenerate areas - to work with central and local governments in order to provide a mini-economy in degenerated regions. This has happened regarding:
a) The Gampaha Regeneration Programme, where new developments (including a school, library, computer centre, drama studio, sports pitches) are maintained through the funds generated by a village microfinance programme.
b) The Madagascar IT Programme where 1 million people will be touched through the provision of free computing in an initiative with the Ministry of Education and a number of partners including Microsoft. To work with Governments to achieve greater change.

ii) Corporate Sector - will donate their employees’ time so they provide professional services on a pro bono basis for TVF. This is currently happening with two companies in the U.K. and one organisation in Asia.

iii) Charities - to provide 100% fundraising support and a selection of services through True Skills for select charities who become strategic partners. True Skills is a bank of skills made available for specific projects to select partners.

iv) True Volunteers - TVF will recruit more retired professionals and housewives, realise greater grants from bodies (i.e. European Union) allowing students to work at TVF for a year, and Universities integrating their syllabus to allow MBA and CSR students practical exposure to the corporate and social worlds.

Yes, this is a new imitative which was initiated in 2010 called True Volunteer World. The placements are not touristic and equate to hard work and living in simple surroundings. Please email hr@truevolunteer.org for further information. Please click here to watch a short video on this subject.

To empower disadvantaged persons and communities in the United Kingdom and globally through education. This might be achieved through a number of means including the building of schools, provision of micro-finance, capacity building and employment training.