James Reed: all about business 49. How to spot a charity that's a red flag (and how to give smarter) | John Spiers
Oct 27, 2025
In this discussion, John Spiers, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, shares insights on building purpose-led businesses with client-first cultures. He reveals how EQ Investors, founded on a unique structure, achieved top B Corp status. John emphasizes the importance of measurable charity impact and provides guidance on identifying effective organizations, including pitfalls like declining income and stagnant boards. He also introduces his platform, Giving Is Great, which helps match donors with high-impact charities, advocating for smarter philanthropic strategies.
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Client-First Business Outperforms Spreadsheet-First
- John Spiers built EQ Investors around emotional intelligence and client-first decision making.
- He argues starting with client needs produces sustainable profits better than spreadsheet-driven strategies.
Gifting Shares To Create A Foundation Shareholder
- John gifted a quarter of EQ's shares to a charity foundation he created and it now owns roughly a quarter of the company.
- He did this to give clients and staff confidence about long-term stability and culture.
Limits Of Charity As A Major Shareholder
- A charity major shareholder can be passive, seek steady dividends, and lack capacity for capital injections.
- This structure suits stable, non-capital-intensive businesses but not fast-growth, capital-hungry startups.
