In this episode, we tackle a big question that’s been coming up in our research calls:

Should Glad be a charity?

We share the reasons we originally considered becoming a nonprofit, why we ultimately decided to stay a for-profit organisation, and how this decision ties directly to maximising our impact on climate change. We also introduce our new membership model, highlighting exactly what members get (from a digital impact badge to exclusive behind-the-scenes updates). Finally, we share an update on how much greenhouse gas the Glad community has collectively committed to removing in our very first season so far.

Watch Episode #5 now

Links

Watch on Youtube and Spotify and listen on Apple Podcasts.

Transcript: “Should We Be a Charity?”

James (00:04)

Welcome to Glad Tidings with me, James McQuarrie.

Ben (00:07)

…and me, Ben Wynn. This is the show where we talk about the progress we’ve made—together with the amazing Glad community—towards cleaning up the mess we’ve made of our atmosphere.

James (00:19)

We’ve got some exciting topics today, Ben. What’s on the agenda?

Ben (00:24)

We’ve received fantastic feedback from people we’ve been speaking with—feedback that’s helping shape how we build Glad. And you and I, along with many of our contacts, have been discussing a big question: Should we be a charity? We’ll share our findings, learnings, and decisions on that. Then we’ll talk about what it means to be a Glad member—what you actually get by joining. Finally, we’ll give everyone an update on our “totaliser,” which tracks how much impact we’ve had so far in Season One.

James (01:13)

Yes, we’ll tease the numbers for the end! But first, as Ben mentioned, we’ve received a lot of excellent feedback over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been doing research calls to hear people’s views on climate change—what actions they’re taking, what they’d like to do, and what they find challenging. A huge thank you to everyone who’s shared their time; it’s been incredibly valuable.

So far, the main takeaway is that people really worry about climate change—sometimes to the point of losing sleep over it. They genuinely want to take action but aren’t always sure how. We heard feedback like, “You have my vote! I’m in—how can I join?” or “I’m really passionate about this.” It’s clear people want to do something. That said, it also raised questions about how we operate, which Ben will discuss.

Ben (03:00)

Yes, I also want to say thanks to everyone who’s given us their time. We’ve received pages of notes and, rather than seeing them as negative, we’re really grateful because they help us improve. A recurring sentiment has been, “I like what you’re doing, but shouldn’t this be a charity?” or “I already donate to charities, so my ‘charity budget’ is maxed out.”

That made us stop and think: Should we be a charity? And if not, why are people perceiving us in that way? We’d already considered this question months ago, but we went deeper again this week. Let’s bring it out into the open: Should we be a charity or not?

Why People Expect a Charity

People often assume an organisation working for the common good—like cleaning up the atmosphere—will be a charity. There are great reasons for that: people are used to donating money for a cause, trusting a charity to deploy those funds.

Potential Benefits of Charity Status

• Well-known, expected model for altruistic causes.

• In the UK, Gift Aid offers extra funds from the government.

• Access to certain grants that are only available to registered charities.

Why We Chose Not to Be a Charity

We actually decided some time ago to be a for-profit organisation. We revisited that choice to confirm it still made sense, and we concluded it’s the right path. One big issue with being a charity is dependency on philanthropic funding for operational costs. That can force you to spend a lot of time chasing donations just to keep the lights on, rather than focusing on impact. We don’t have a billionaire in our back pocket to cover everything, so we’d risk a constant funding scramble.

We also spoke to people who’ve worked at or with charities, and they often highlight strict governance and risk aversion. That can stifle innovation. But to solve a crisis the size of climate change, we need to be entrepreneurial, move fast, and take calculated risks. Moreover, we want to operate globally at large scale. While some charities grow globally, it’s far more common for for-profit businesses to scale up that way.

Our Single “North Star”

Glad’s main measure of success is impact, defined by how much greenhouse gas we remove from the atmosphere. That’s our “North Star.” Being a for-profit aligns with our goal of hiring top talent, innovating quickly, and scaling globally—all of which maximise our impact.

An Ethical Argument

Another point is: Why should cleaning up the atmosphere rely on charity? The industrial revolution created this problem through capitalist means, so using a for-profit structure to fix it might be entirely appropriate. We also see it as a reversible decision; if we started as a charity, we couldn’t easily go back to for-profit. But as a for-profit, we can always spin off a charitable arm later if it makes sense.

James (16:25)

All this came up because we realised people kept calling it a “donation” to climate change. That suggests a one-way giving model without clear benefits to the contributor. We decided to switch from contributions to a true membership model. Members pay a fee each season to join our “Glad Climate Cleanup Community” and in return get real value:

1. Impact Record – A record of their cumulative greenhouse gas removal, showing exactly how they’ve helped.

2. Digital Badge – A live-updating badge they can display on social media or a website, showing real-time impact.

3. Voting Rights – Influence where the season’s climate pot goes. We’ll present vetted greenhouse gas removal projects and members can weigh in.

4. Exclusive Insights – Behind-the-scenes content from the ground: photos, videos, blog posts about the removal methods in action, and the communities involved.

We’re always open to feedback. These benefits are just our starting point. If you have ideas, let us know!

Ben (20:25)

Exactly. We’re at an early stage, and the membership package will evolve based on what you, our community, want. In fact, the feedback we’ve received already led us here. Next week, we’ll launch a new website version reflecting this membership language and clarifying the value exchange. It’s always easier to write for someone else than for yourself, so we appreciate your patience while we refine our message.

Season One Totaliser Update

Season One began in January and runs for 12 weeks. We’re now in early February, and our totaliser—tracking the amount of greenhouse gas our members have committed to removing—is nearly at 13,000 kilograms. At the end of March, we’ll deploy the funds, and removal will happen over time. Huge thanks to everyone who’s joined already—let’s keep it going!

James (23:04)

We’ve gone a bit over our target of 10 minutes, so let’s wrap up. Our ask is simple: Please get involved. Here are three ways:

1. Join Us: Visit gladclimate.com to become a member.

2. Spread the Word: Share Glad with one friend, family member, or colleague who cares about climate change.

3. Subscribe & Follow: If you’re listening or watching, hit “subscribe” so you don’t miss future episodes. You can also follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Ben (24:26)

Perfect. Thanks, James, and thank you everyone for listening. Until next time!

James (24:32)

Thank you, Ben. See you all soon!