Ben Black

Ben Black has spent more than 15 years working within the charity sector, since 2021 at the RNLI Ben has become one of the driving forces behind some of the most innovative developments in fundraising technology and operational accessibility.

Originally responsible for supporting the onboarding of donation terminals at RNLI, Ben transformed the role into a platform for sector-leading innovation. His ideas and creativity have helped reshape how charities maximise income generation through technology, including the creation of interactive contactless donation experiences and the highly successful Mini DTV developed alongside Donation Tech.

Most notably, Ben identified a growing issue affecting charities nationwide: the safe banking of cash donations as bank branches and Post Offices continue to close. Volunteers were increasingly travelling long distances carrying charitable funds, storing cash at home and facing operational and personal safety risks.

Refusing to accept this as unavoidable, Ben led the concept and development of Toucan Cash alongside Toucan Giving. The innovative platform enables charities to deposit cash securely through more than 65,000 nationwide outlets using existing PayPoint and PayZone infrastructure.

Ben worked across every stage of development, collaborating with suppliers, acquiring banks and operational stakeholders to deliver a practical and affordable solution for charities of all sizes.

Despite becoming a recognised sector expert and speaker at events including the Institute of Fundraising, Charity Times and Charity Finance Group, Ben remains modest, always championing the work of others around him rather than seeking recognition for himself.