James Reed: all about business27 Okt 2025

50. How to spot a charity that's a red flag (and how to give smarter) | John Spiers

Is it possible to be a highly successful entrepreneur without compromising your commitment to customers, staff, and society?

In this episode of All About Business, we’re joined by John Spiers, entrepreneur, philanthropist, veteran of the wealth management industry, and Chairman of EQ Investors, one of the UK’s leading B Corporations. John shares why he returned to the sector to found EQ Investors, how he deliberately built its culture around putting the client first, and why the bottom line will look after itself if you do things correctly.

He reveals the unique structure of EQ Investors, with a foundation owning a quarter of the shares, giving clients and staff confidence in the company’s long-term stability and purpose. This purpose-led structure earned the company the highest B Corp score in the UK. John also shares his critique of shareholder-focused capitalism and the short-term pressures of private equity, arguing why a long-term, stakeholder-first model creates greater business resilience.

John shares his immense knowledge on how to be an effective philanthropist, explains the creation of his platform, Giving Is Great, and offers vital advice on what to look for, and what not to look for, when assessing a charity’s effectiveness.

This episode is packed with valuable insight if you’re an entrepreneur interested in purpose-driven business, investment strategy, and how to build a company that prioritises all its stakeholders for long-term success.

Timecodes:

03:52 The concept of philanthropy companies

05:14 Challenges and benefits of philanthropy companies

12:34 The importance of early years and environmental causes

21:24 The creation and impact of giving is great

33:12 The power of matching donations

39:59 Challenges in charity data and impact reporting

47:58 Evaluating charity leadership

54:17 The rewards of philanthropy

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