The leading online giving company, JustGiving, is trying to reassure the UK's army of sponsored runners, swimmers, and other fundraisers after a rival online donations site hit the financial rocks.
The Charity Commission suspended charitygiving.co.uk on Friday after a shortfall of at least £250,000 was identified in the funds it should have passed on to charities.
Zarine Kharas, founder and chief executive of JustGiving, said: "It couldn't have happened to us because the monies owed to charities are 100% ring-fenced."
JustGiving operates a trust account for donations, which can only be accessed with the independent consent of three top managers.
Any funds in the account would not be available to administrators or liquidators if the firm went under.
Zarine Kharas is calling for all online giving websites to be made secure.
"I think similar safeguards to solicitors and accountants should be put in place," she says.
There's concern that the problems at charitygiving.co.uk, which handled £100,000 a week, could put off donors and fundraisers just as charities are struggling to maintain their incomes.
Showing posts with label justgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label justgiving. Show all posts
Monday, 15 July 2013
Friday, 15 April 2011
Online sponsorship charges
Online sponsorship sites have been warming up because they're so convenient. It's easy to give, they handle the gift aid and pass the money to your selected charity.
But what most marathon runners don't want is to have their friends' donations overtaken by charges. So it's good that the choice of websites has just expanded.
There's the biggest contender, JustGiving, which charges 5% on donations plus the gift aid.
Virgin Money Giving levies 2% on the donation only.
Bmycharity has no transaction fee.
Nor does the newcomer, MyDonate, just set up by BT.
JustGiving says its 5% is worth it because the site raises more for charity than the others and gives a good service.
But people are likely to ask: why do all this work and use an online fundraising site which charges a percentage fee?
It's worth knowing that all except MyDonate charge the charity as well, either up front or by the month, just for having an account.
Also, there are card processing charges, which you don't seem to be able to escape with any of these four websites.
Preparation isn't just about getting your body ready. It's about making the most of everyone's donations too. So don't trip up over sponsorship.
But what most marathon runners don't want is to have their friends' donations overtaken by charges. So it's good that the choice of websites has just expanded.
There's the biggest contender, JustGiving, which charges 5% on donations plus the gift aid.
Virgin Money Giving levies 2% on the donation only.
Bmycharity has no transaction fee.
Nor does the newcomer, MyDonate, just set up by BT.
JustGiving says its 5% is worth it because the site raises more for charity than the others and gives a good service.
But people are likely to ask: why do all this work and use an online fundraising site which charges a percentage fee?
It's worth knowing that all except MyDonate charge the charity as well, either up front or by the month, just for having an account.
Also, there are card processing charges, which you don't seem to be able to escape with any of these four websites.
Preparation isn't just about getting your body ready. It's about making the most of everyone's donations too. So don't trip up over sponsorship.
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