BGC Group Raises Record $16m at Annual Charity Day as Corporate Giving Falls

BGC Group raised a record $16m globally during its annual Charity Day event last week, pushing the total amount raised across the fundraiser's 22 year history to $250m.

The event was established to honor the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC employees who died in the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Each year, celebrity guests join trading desks across the firm's global offices to conduct transactions, with all revenue generated throughout the day directed to non profit organisations. Over 1,000 charities have received support through the initiative since its inception, including more than 60 UK causes annually.

Sean Windeatt, Co CEO and COO of BGC Group, described the fundraiser as "one of the world's most significant fundraising events and an incredible legacy in their honour."

Celebrities participating in this year's event included Dame Helen Mirren, Hugh Grant, Sir Gareth Southgate, and digital creator KSI.

Support for Beneficiaries Across Health and Youth Services

Proceeds from the day are being distributed to dozens of organisations worldwide. Among the UK beneficiaries is Action Medical Research, a children's charity that helped fund the initial development of UK polio vaccines. Another recipient is Denville Hall, a 100 year old residential care home for former members of the performing arts industry.

Joanne Benjamin, Chair of Trustees at Denville Hall, highlighted the necessity of institutional support in the current economic climate.

“corporate support of this kind is no longer a bonus; it is essential to our survival, and to our ability to care for those who have spent their lives entertaining us”

Donations will also assist Caudwell Youth, where funding will cover structured mentoring programs. Philanthropist John Caudwell explained that the contribution will provide one to one support for young people experiencing mental health difficulties, leaving local authority care, or facing risks of exploitation.

“This generous donation from BGC Charity Day will fund… the consistent support and guidance they need to build a brighter future.”

UK Corporate Donations Drop Across the Board

The fundraising milestone comes at a time when wider corporate philanthropy in the UK is under pressure. Recent data published by the Charities Aid Foundation indicates that only 27 per cent of UK businesses currently offer any form of charitable support, with just 17 per cent providing direct financial donations.

Giving among FTSE 100 corporations has halved as a proportion of total profits since 2009. According to the research, UK charities would gain an estimated £1bn in additional funding if FTSE 100 businesses committed one per cent of their profits to charitable causes.

Lewis Coghlin, Director of Fundraising at Action Medical Research, noted that charity income streams have been squeezed across the sector. He explained that the organisation has "seen donations affected by the cost of living crisis and the general economic uncertainty".

Addressing the broader decline in business contributions, Windeatt urged corporate leaders to consider alternative forms of participation beyond financial grants. He expressed hope that Charity Day would "encourage more [businesses] to find their own way to step up, especially when the benefits, from employee retention to how customers see you, are so clear".

He added that business leaders do not always need to write cheques to make an impact, advising companies to "give time, give skills, give a day."

BGC Charity Day 2026 was held simultaneously across the firm's offices in London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong, São Paulo, and Sydney.

Source: City A.M.