A Manchester-based digital collective has acquired Wood for Trees, a data specialist helping charitable organisations, and its second acquisition announcement of a Bath-based company in as many weeks.
Inc & Co announced on Monday its acquisition of the agency analysing charity firms' fundraising activities, with clients including the British Red Cross, Barnardo's and Dogs Trust.
The move comes after Inc & Co last week announced it had bought Bath firm Insight Analysis, a sports analytics company offering data analysis to help elite athletes. The firm is currently seeing rapid expansion that includes the acquisition of other digital agencies Skylab, Brass, Neon and Cuhu, MyLife and Laundrapp in recent times.
It's Inc & Co's first move into the charity sector and Jack Mason, group CEO, said: “As the economic fallout of Covid-19 continues to have a devastating impact on traditional fundraising channels, we are pleased to add Wood for Trees into the collective to support charities during this challenging year.
"This addition represents our commitment to both the sector and our goal to help businesses thrive in these difficult times.”
Wood for Trees helps clients identify the most valuable supporters through data tracking and by using insight tools to assess which fundraising activities generated the most income.
The acquisition comes as charities seek to diversify income streams following the impact felt across the sector during the Covid pandemic, which has seen traditional fundraising become less effective.
Close to half of the UK’s small charities working with the world’s poorest people are set to close within the next year due to a lack of financial support, according to data from the Small International Development Charities Network.
Jay Cromack, managing director of Wood for Trees, said: “We’re thrilled to be joining the Inc & Co collective and are excited by the breadth of skills and services available to help us develop our current offering.
"Wood for Trees has a simple mission to help our clients raise more money for the amazing causes they support, and our new ownership will help build a better future.”
The latest acquisition for Inc & Co brings the number of businesses in the collective from one to nine in just 12 months.
