Here on the MRF Blog we're going to be bringing you examples of easy ways to boost your fundraising efforts. If you've got a story you'd like to share then just get in touch by emailing ianb@meningitis.org
This week's topic is Gift Aid, a really easy way to increase the value of your donations by 28% at no extra cost to you.
The Gift Aid scheme allows charities to claim extra money from the government when you make a donation to charity. Under the Gift Aid scheme MRF is able to claim back the tax you would have paid on the donation this means for every £1 you donate to us we get an extra 25p from HM Revenue & Customs. On top of this the government also makes a payment of 3p meaning that every £1 donation is actually worth £1.28.
For us to make a Gift Aid claim on your donation is really simple here's how:
Make a Gift Aid declaration
You can make a Gift Aid declaration by downloading our form here, signing the form gives us your permission to claim the extra money on your donations. We can also claim on any donation you've made in the last six years. Once you've signed the form and returned it to us that's all you need the money will be claimed automatically by us on any donation you make in the future.
If you're doing a sponsored event
Gift Aid declarations only cover money that you have donated yourself it doesn't cover money you've collected from others such as when you're doing a sponsored event. However we can still claim Gift Aid if you get your sponsors to fill out your sponsor form correctly.
If you encourage everyone who is a UK taxpayer to write their full name, home address and tick the Gift Aid box on the sponsor from then we can claim the money. Unfortunately we can't claim when someone writes c/o or work addresses so keep an eye on what people put down when you collect your sponsors.
We only contact people on sponsor forms if they've ticked the box for us to get in touch so you can reassure everyone by putting their name and address they won't be added to a mailing list.
Last year the average amount raised by our London Marathon runners was £2000 if everyone had ticked the Gift Aid box then we could have claimed an amazing £560 extra in Gift Aid which makes a huge difference to our work.
Don't worry if it all sounds a bit complicated our fundraising packs contain more info on Gift Aid and your local office will be able to answer any other questions you may have.
Posted in Fundraising by Ian Beningfield on 13 July 2009
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