Pennies has appointed Marian Duxbury as Chief Finance Officer and Jim Dolan as Chief Transformation and Technology Officer ahead of the retirement of co-founder and Finance Director Peter Nugent.
The charity said the appointments reflect growth in micro-donations at checkout as more retailers and hospitality businesses add small charitable contributions to card and digital payments.
Since its founding, Pennies has enabled more than 325 million donations and raised more than GBP £80 million for over 1,125 charities. It works with more than 200 brands across the UK, Ireland and other markets, allowing customers to add a small donation when they pay in-store, online or in-app.
The leadership changes mark a transition for the organisation as Nugent prepares to step down later this year. He will remain involved as a member of the charity's trustee board.
Micro-donations have gained attention as charities face tighter finances and growing pressure on traditional fundraising. Pennies cited CAF UK Giving Report data showing there are six million fewer donors than a decade ago, while its own consumer research found that 67% of consumers prefer giving small amounts regularly rather than making larger, occasional donations.
Duxbury joins with finance experience at retailers including AllSaints and Monsoon Accessorize. Most recently, she was Group CFO and COO at BrandAlley.
Dolan has worked with Pennies in several roles over the past seven years and has led large transformation programmes spanning omni-channel retail, cloud systems and artificial intelligence.
Leadership shift
Nugent was among those behind the launch of Pennies and has been involved since its early development. His departure from the executive team closes a chapter for a charity built around small donations made during everyday purchases rather than standalone fundraising appeals.
"I knew from the beginning that we had an idea that could be transformational for the charity sector, and I'm thrilled to have been part of the team that turned that vision into reality. I'm delighted to be joining the Trustee Board in the future and remain actively involved in driving the micro-donation movement," said Peter Nugent, Co-Founder and Finance Director, Pennies.
Duxbury outlined her view of the group's role in the donations market.
"Pennies is doing something truly important and innovative - making it easy for millions of people to give a little, regularly, in a way that adds up to something transformational for charities. I'm thrilled to be joining the team at such an exciting moment in its growth, and I'm looking forward to strengthening the financial foundations that will support Pennies' next chapter," said Marian Duxbury, Chief Finance Officer, Pennies.
Dolan said the next phase would build on work already under way.
"Having worked with Pennies in various roles over the past seven years, I believe the next few years will be hugely important for the future growth and innovation of micro-donations. The opportunity to build on the back-office transformation I have been leading over the last 12 months, while accelerating new technology innovation, is very exciting. We also have a genuine opportunity to develop our services even further to drive greater social impact. I love this cause, I love this team, and I'm proud to be part of it," said Jim Dolan, Chief Transformation and Technology Officer, Pennies.
Giving trends
The organisation's model is based on the idea that small sums collected in large volumes can provide a steady source of charitable income. That approach has become more relevant as cash use has declined and charities seek alternatives to bucket collections and other traditional forms of low-value public giving.
Pennies said demand for digital giving remains strong among both businesses and consumers. It operates through partnerships with merchants and payments providers, embedding donation options into checkout systems rather than asking people to make separate contributions.
Its figures suggest scale is central to the model. More than 325 million donations have produced over GBP £80 million, showing how a large number of very small contributions can create a meaningful pool of funds for charities when offered widely across payment channels.
Chief Executive Officer Alison Hutchinson linked the management changes to that expansion.
"We are seeing strong and sustained demand for digital giving, as more brands and consumers look for simple, trusted ways to support good causes. Strengthening our leadership team is an important step in scaling that impact, and Marian and Jim bring exceptional experience that will support the next stage of Pennies' growth and innovation," said Hutchinson.
She also highlighted Nugent's contribution to the organisation and his continuing role.
"On behalf of the trustees and the entire Pennies team, I would also like to thank Peter for his dedication, vision, and leadership in helping build Pennies into the organisation it is today. His contribution to growing the impact of micro-donations has been incredible, and we are delighted that when he retires later this year, he will continue to support Pennies as a trustee," said Hutchinson.