How Charity Digital supports the charity sector

When Charity Digital began its journey in 2001, our mission was to help other charities accelerate their missions using digital technology. More than two decades later, that mission remains the same. Charity Digital has helped more than 1,000,000 charity professionals learn about the effective use of digital.

 

We work with technology partners, such as Microsoft, Avast, and Amazon, to provide incredible content and occasional discounted tech, while our payment processing and fundraising services have brought in more than £300 million for our charity customers since 2002.

 

Our events are always cutting-edge and in-depth, helping charities stay firmly ahead of the curve, grasping opportunities and mitigating risks.

 

So, whether you’re an organisation at the start of your digital journey or one well on the way to putting digital at the heart of your operations, Charity Digital can help you achieve your mission.

 

Here are five ways we are already doing just that.

 

 

Sector-leading content

 

Charity Digital publishes content every day, with the goal of leading the sector on all things tech. Our articles cover a range of topics, such as the best fundraising platforms for charities, impact reports to inspire you, the cost of tech on the climate, the ethics of artificial intelligence, an exploration of the best bank accounts for charities, and so much more. 

 

We’ve created ’Insight Hubs’ to host content by topic. You can check these out below:

• Artificial intelligence
• Climate Action
• Cyber Security
• Digital Inclusion
• Digital Strategy
• Finance
• Fundraising
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Reimagining Services
• Sector Perspectives
• Volunteering

Check our home page every day for more information on everything you could ever need to know about digital transformation. 

 

On top of articles, we regularly publish webinars, usually about two per month. Recent webinars include How to boost productivity, The rise of AI in charity finance, How to master grant-funding, and so much more. 

 

And, on top of webinars, we publish our very Charity Digital podcast twice a month. Recent episodes have included one on digital inclusion in 2025, another on AI for charities, and one covering misinformation. 

 

On top of all that, we also publish several educational and entertaining videos each month on topics ranging from effective cash management to animal fundraising ideas to how trustees can champion cyber security.

 

Whatever your digital issue, Charity Digital has a piece of content that can help you out.

 

Ground-breaking events and training

 

Just as we regularly refresh our content, we regularly hold events where charity professionals can learn practical steps on how to digitally transform. All of our events are intended to remove any fear or other barriers for charities embracing digital and share vital expertise from the sector to get them started.

 

In 2025, we hosted our second AI Summit, which has proved a huge support across the sector. And, in November 2025, we are hosting our seventh - that’s right, seventh! - annual Digital Fundraising Summit. 

 

You can sign up to our events mailing list to stay abreast of the events on the horizon or check out our events listings routinely for the upcoming roster of webinars that can help you on your digital journey.

 

We recently launched the Charity Digital Academy. Our courses aim, in just three hours, to enhance soft skills and hard skills, boost your knowledge of finance and artificial intelligence, and supercharge your digital capabilities.

 

Some of the below have proved to be particularly popular.

• Supercharge your use of social media
• Making the most of Microsoft 365 Apps
• Getting started with Google for Non-profits
• A charity guide to email marketing
• Practical uses of artificial intelligence
• Writing a successful funding application
• Developing a fundraising strategy

You can check out more sessions on the Academy page. 

 

Optimised email marketing

 

Charity Digital’s email service makes email marketing easy. Using the dotdigital cloudbase platform, Charity Digital Mail offers a lighter dotdigital version with personalised support tailored to your email marketing needs, whether you need custom design work for your templates or individual training.

 

An average of six million emails per month are sent through our bespoke charity email service. It’s quick to set up and the service can help you automate campaigns and test your messaging so your emails resonate with your supporter base.

 

One organisation that has benefitted from our email service is the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Heather Hitchins, Communications and Digital Co-ordinator, said: “Charity Digital gives me all the dotdigital email marketing tools I need to send out regular newsletters, one-off mailings, and create ongoing journeys to keep supporters engaged. It also allows me to tailor sign-up forms and keep track of where new supporters come from.

 

“The biggest benefit is that our communication process is becoming more streamlined, more efficient and we are saving time!”

 

To get an idea on pricing, or for a walk-through of platform features, contact elizabeth.carter@charitydigital.org.uk. 

 

 

State-of-the-art payment solutions

Charity Digital’s Charity Payments Scheme was founded in 2004 with the aim of providing affordable payment solutions for charities.

What we do:

A regulated entity, we collect charitable activity Direct Debits (DD’s) for not for profits, for example, any DD which could be for a charitable benefit, foundations, KICKS, PTA, schools, clubs, etc.   

 

We collect DD’s for planned giving and for campaigns (specific fundraising campaigns) as well as for lotteries and raffles.  Charity Digital collects nearly 2 million DDs a year, so we are competent at  managing considerable settlement traffic in a secure manner.  Working with key partners, Buffalo (Donordebit platform) and CFP Lottery & Raffles for whom we collect their weekly lottery DDs, our biggest lottery is an 80,000 member charity. 

 

Charity Digital is regulated by three bodies: 

• FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)
• BACS
• Banking Regulator (Natwest as our sponsor)

If your organisation are interested in exploring more about our payments offering and how we can help you with settlements of either your Direct Debits or lotteries, please get in touch with:  customerservice@charitydigital.org.uk

 

Discounted software and hardware

 

Charity Digital has loads of incredible offers for discounted and donated tech. These are usually from partners we’re working with to provide the best possible tech options for charities. Our deals are constantly changing, so check in to see what’s on offer, but at present we have some really fantastic deals for charities, including:

• Avast Cyber Security: Award-winning cyber care at charitable rates
• FCAA Regulated Tailored direct debit solutions: Build donations and lotteries
• Computers 4 Charities: Access a 10% off refurbished hardware

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the Shop for more deals, right now.

 

 

Helping charities with the Code of Practice

 

Charity leaders developed the Code of Practice (the Code) in 2018 to improve digital sustainability, efficiency, and decision-making. It was a task chaired by Zoe Amar, supported by Charity Digital, but led entirely by the charity sector. But in 2025, Charity Digital became home of the Code, ensuring it keeps serving the sector.