Chemical Engineers Benevolent Fund: instant grant delivery with Lightning Deliver

"It’s really elevated our grant-making. It's the future of our sector."

The Chemical Engineers Benevolent Fund supports chemical engineers and their families through times of hardship. The charity provides financial assistance for a wide range of needs - from £100 for school uniforms to £5,000 towards disability-adapted facilities, with an average award of around £1,000.

The challenge: manual payments and limited visibility

Before partnering with Lightning Reach, the Fund’s grant-giving process was manual, time-consuming, and payments were made by bank transfer which could only be sent twice a month.

Without built-in identity checks, the Fund had also faced fraudulent applications, creating both financial and reputational risk. Processing each grant involved collecting bank details, verifying information, and liaising with finance, taking up to two hours per application.

For applicants already in crisis, these delays added extra worry and uncertainty. As Paul Day, Benevolent Fund Manager explained:

“Our clients are often in hardship and need support quickly. The back-and-forth and waiting created real anxiety.”

There was also limited visibility once funds were transferred, leaving the small two-person team unable to track how grants were used.

The solution: Lightning Deliver

To solve these challenges, the Fund adopted Lightning Deliver - Lightning Reach’s instant digital voucher system that enables organisations to send secure, purpose-specific support in minutes.

Lightning Deliver enables organisations to send instant support payments to approved applicants in the click of a button

For the Fund, the impact has given them back control over their grant delivery.

“With Lightning Deliver, we can tailor and curate vouchers to specific suppliers. It gives us peace of mind that funds are being used exactly as intended.” Paul commented

• Time saved: Administration has dropped from up to two hours per application to a matter of minutes, freeing up valuable staff capacity.

  
  

• Faster relief: With vouchers sent instantly, applicants receive help as soon as it’s approved, removing the two-week delay caused by finance processes.

  
  

• Stronger data security: No need to handle applicants’ bank details, reducing risk and protecting sensitive information.

  
  

• Full transparency: A clear audit trail simplifies reporting and provides assurance to trustees and donors.

“It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s transparent, it gives peace of mind. It’s really elevated our grant-making.” - Paul

Embracing innovation for good

For the Fund, adopting Lightning Deliver was more than just a tech upgrade, it was a step towards the future of grant-making.

“It was new ground for us, but standing still is going backwards. Innovation isn’t for its own sake - it’s about keeping pace with and for the people we support. Taking that leap of faith has been worth it.”

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Want to hear more about how Lightning Reach can collaborate with your organisations? Get in touch.