Help for Donors
- Do I need to register to make a donation?
- How do I register?
- How do I log in to my account?
- I've forgotten my password
- What is Gift Aid?
- How does Gift Aid work?
- Why are some donations not eligible for Gift Aid?
- Is there a minimum donation?
- Why should I pay the transaction fee on top of my donation?
- When will my donation reach the charity?
- My donation hasn't worked. Why?
- I made a donation to the wrong charity/fundraising page. Can I request a refund?
- Will I receive a donation receipt?
- Can I set up a monthly donation?
- Will Charity Choice pass my details on to charities?
- Can I donate anonymously?
- How will Charity Choice protect my privacy?
- Can I leave a message with my donation?
- Can I make a donation from abroad?
- Can I make a donation in a foreign currency?
- Which payment methods are accepted on Charity Choice?
- Is it safe to make a donation through Charity Choice?
- How can I leave a legacy to charity?
- I can't find my favourite charity on Charity Choice.
Do I need to register to make a donation?
No, you can make a donation without registering. However, if you're a regular giver it's worth creating an account with us, as we'll save all of your contact details for next time (Charity Choice will never store your bank details).
There are other great benefits to registering with Charity Choice: you can offer goods, time or your services, fundraise for your favourite charity, leave a gift to charity in your will, or simply become a friend of a charity. For full details of the benefits of registering, click here.
How do I register?
Simply click here to sign up for a Charity Choice account. It's quick, easy and free to register and all you need to do is enter a valid email address and pick a password.
How do I log in to my account?
Simply click here to sign in to your account. Next time you return to the site, you can log in by clicking on the Login button at the top right corner of the screen.
I've forgotten my password
Don't worry - just click here to request a password reminder.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a tax relief from the Government which helps charities to earn more on their donations. To donate under the Gift Aid scheme you must be a UK taxpayer and have paid sufficient tax (as income tax and/or capital gains tax) to cover the amount that will be claimed by the charity in each tax year. Your chosen charity must be registered with HMRC in order to be eligible for this.
How does Gift Aid work?
If you are a UK taxpayer your donation can be increased by 25% and it won't cost you a penny! So for every £10 you donate, charities can reclaim an extra £2.50 in tax from HM Revenue & Customs. All you need to do is tick the Gift Aid box when you make your donation and your chosen charity will receive an extra 25%.
Why are some donations not eligible for Gift Aid?
Not all donations are eligible for Gift Aid. Charities are unable to claim Gift Aid on your donation if:
- you are not a UK taxpayer.
- the donation was made in return for services or goods e.g. raffle tickets.
- you are donating on behalf of another individual or a company.
- the donation was made to a family member who is taking part in an event where the charity has covered all or part of their expenses.
Is there a minimum donation?
Yes, there is a minimum donation of £2.
Why should I pay the transaction fee on top of my donation?
Covering the cost of the transaction fee on behalf of your chosen charity is completely optional, but it will help them to lower their administrative costs as 100% of your donation will go to support their good work.
At Charity Choice we've tried to cut costs for our charities as much as possible and we're constantly trying to negotiate the lowest possible card fees. We hope that by offering donors the opportunity to add these fees to their donation, charities will be able to make their money go further.
For more information on Charity Choice's fees and charges, click here.
When will my donation reach the charity?
Donations are paid each week to charities by BACS, ensuring a regular and reliable income.
My donation hasn't worked. Why?
If you're having trouble donating, please make sure you have entered all of your bank details correctly, including your name as stated on the card and the address where your bank card is registered to.
Please also ensure that you have sufficient funds in your bank account to cover the cost of your donation. If you have checked all of the above and the problem still persists, please contact us. We'll then try and identify the problem.
I made a donation to the wrong charity/fundraising page. Can I request a refund?
Unfortunately we are unable to give refunds on donations made to charity as we deposit all donations into their bank accounts on a weekly basis. We suggest you contact the charity directly and ask them for a refund. Click here for the Charity Directory to find their contact details.
Will I receive a donation receipt?
Yes, we'll send you a receipt by email. This can be used by higher rate tax payers as supporting evidence when submitting your Self Assessment Tax Return to HM Revenue & Customs.
If you've made a donation but haven't received a receipt, please check your junk mailbox, as sometimes unrecognised mail can get held there.
If it isn't in your junk mailbox either, please contact us by emailing enquiries@charitychoice.co.uk or call us on 020 7549 8651.
Can I set up a monthly donation?
Unfortunately, the Charity Choice website cannot support monthly donations at the moment. We are hoping to add this to your list of services in the very near future.
Will Charity Choice pass my details on to charities?
We'll only pass your details on to a charity if you give us permission to do so.
Can I donate anonymously?
Yes, you can donate anonymously. When you make a donation, you'll see that there's a box that allows you to remain anonymous. Simply tick the box, and we won't pass your details on to the charity.
How will Charity Choice protect my privacy?
Charity Choice have a very strict privacy policy. Click here to view it.
Can I leave a message with my donation?
When you make your donation, you'll find a box where you can leave a message. Whether you'd like to specify how you would like your donation to be spent or perhaps offer a few words of encouragement to a fundraising friend, that's the place to do it.
Can I make a donation from abroad?
Yes, you can.
Can I make a donation in a foreign currency?
Our website can only accept donations in UK Pounds Sterling, but you can easily work out how much money you would like to donate in your own currency and convert it.
Which payment methods are accepted on Charity Choice?
We accept payments with: Visa and Mastercard.
Is it safe to make a donation through Charity Choice?
Charity Choice takes security very seriously and complies with all security measures – see our site security for more details.
How can I leave a legacy to charity?
It's easy to leave a legacy to charity. Simply click here to get started.
I can't find my favourite charity on Charity Choice.
If you can't find your charity on Charity Choice, they probably haven't activated their online donation facility. Send us an email with the charity's details and we'll let them know you want them to sign up.
