Insights
We look at the best deals for fundraising platforms and how charities can get their hands on them
The discounts are being prepared, the tills are rattling, and shops are reinforcing the doors – it can only mean one thing: Black Friday will soon be upon us. And there are plenty of ways for charities to participate this year.
Whether it’s getting a good deal on your technology, capitalising on the web traffic it drives, or, in this case, saving money on your fundraising platforms, charities can benefit from all the bargains the American tradition has to offer.
Fundraising is a perennially hot topic for charities, but particularly in the lead up to the Christmas period. In 2019, it was estimated that one in three people in the UK were considering donating to a charity instead of giving a gift, and it isn’t called the season of good will for nothing.
With Black Friday fast approaching (it’s officially on 26 November, for the deal hunters out there), charities can take it as an opportunity to get their ducks in a row for fundraising, finding the right tech to make it as easy as possible for their supporters to donate as and when they want to – just in time for that seasonal rush.
Below we look at some of the deals that can maximise your fundraising opportunities this winter.
Enthuse is a very adaptable fundraising platform that allows charities to set up branded fundraising pages so that supporters feel as though they never left their website. Research shows that branded fundraising pages can raise 38% more on average for a good cause.
It has a range of packages that can help charities with every aspect of fundraising, from capturing and processing gift aid information to sending your donors customised thank you messages for the money they have raised on your behalf.
Enthuse describes itself as the “only real 0% platform fees model” and offers varied and flexible payment plans, according to what you need. For the basic branded donation forms, there are no service or processing fees, just a flat rate subscription of £34.99 + VAT.
There is also the option of asking donors to cover some of the digital fundraising fees, by asking them to tip or agree to the Donor Fee Cover, which Enthuse says has a 75% opt-in rate on average.
Charities can find a full list of fees on the Enthuse website and can book a free demo through the Charity Digital Exchange.
Evershare allows charities to receive cashless donations through specially-created QR codes. All supporters need to do is scan them, enter their details, and donate – simple as that.
In fact, Evershare estimates that the entire process, from donation to thank you message takes less than 40 seconds to complete – including sorting the Gift Aid.
Like Enthuse, Evershare also fully automates the Gift Aid process and all donations go directly into a charity’s account. By combining secure open banking technology with the QR scanning platform, both charities and their supporters can be sure that money is going to the right place, untouched by any third parties. It doesn’t even require an app!
When it comes to pricing, Evershare says it is up to 45% cheaper than using contactless card readers. It charges a processing fee of 0.5% + 5p per transaction (£100 works out at 60p) and fees vary depending on whether gift aid was received. Evershare’s price list says charities receiving £25,000 of donations will only pay £175 to Evershare. A bargain!
Just Giving is the old faithful of the charity world. It is a one-stop shop, providing donate buttons, fundraising pages, tools for crowdfunding campaigns– basically everything you might need for fundraising, Just Giving has it.
You can tailor your Just Giving pages with your brand colours and story and the platform also provides fundraisers with coaching and tools to help them hit their targets. Just Giving’s Campaign Pages mean that supporters can both donate and fundraise for them, helping your cause reach as many people as possible.
Charities in the UK generally pay a monthly subscription fee of £15 + VAT or £39 + VAT, but Just Giving is offering a free plan for new customers when purchased through the Charity Digital Exchange, though the 5% fee on donations and 2.90% transaction fee still apply.
These savings + lots of visibility for your cause = winning? We think so.
In the spirit of Black Friday, you can find plenty more deals on much-needed tech on the Charity Digital Exchange.
Whether it’s cyber security software you need or new laptops and computer accessories, the Exchange has a discount for you. You can find them here and by browsing the Exchange product pages.
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