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Scottish Charities Focus On Increasing Online Giving

Published November 11, 2011 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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But more than half would welcome more support, says virginmoneygiving.com 

More than half of Scottish charities are planning to increase their use of online fundraising, new research* from virginmoneygiving.com, the not-for-profit online giving site shows.

But they would welcome more advice and training in order to maximise online fundraising, the research among 389 charities across the country shows. Nearly six out of 10 (56%) charities say there is not enough external support and advice on online fundraising.

The study shows widespread use of digital fundraising – just 8% of the charities surveyed said they did not use any form of digital fundraising and only 11% say online fundraising is not important.

Around 56% of charities say they plan to increase their use of fundraising websites and to encourage supporters to use sites – another 33% say they already use online fundraising extensively.

Analysis shows online fundraising only generates around 3% of total giving** which in 2010 was around £10.6 billion – £700 million down on pre-recession levels.

Jo Barnett, executive director at Virgin Money Giving said: “The online giving market is growing rapidly and charities and fundraisers benefit from using online giving services as they are more efficient and improve Gift Aid uptake.

“However charities need support and advice on maximising the amounts raised and on the techniques to use. Virgin Money Giving has run workshops across Scotland and has more planned as part of its commitment to help charities.”

Virginmoneygiving.com’s research shows the most popular method of online fundraising is Facebook used by 41% of charities, followed by online donation services which are used by 37%.

Around a third (33%) of charities currently use online fundraising pages while 32% use Twitter and 7.5% use text/SMS.

Through Virgin Money Giving, for every £10 donated £12.15 will make its way to the good cause, assuming donors are eligible to sign up to give Gift Aid. Since its launch in October 2009 virginmoneygiving.com has raised close to £75 million.

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Notes to Editors

*VirginMoneyGiving.com research among 389 charities in September 2011.

**UK Giving 2010.

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To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

About Virgin Money Giving:

  • Virgin Money Giving is the not-for-profit online fundraising arm of Virgin Money and was established in 2009. Virgin Money uses its infrastructure and expertise as a financial services business to ensure that Virgin Money Giving is efficient, secure and offers a high quality service to all fundraisers, charities and those wanting to donate to charity online.
  • Virginmoneygiving.com, which is backed by hundreds of major charities, officially opened to all fundraisers for all charity events on 14 October 2009 and estimates it will deliver an extra £5 million on top of every £100 million raised for charities. This is part of its commitment to achieve the best deal for charities.
  • Virginmoneygiving.com is free for fundraisers, charges a flat registration fee of £100 + VAT for charities and a 2% fee on all donations before Gift Aid, which means for every £10 raised charities receive £12.15.
  • Virgin Money Giving charges charities the minimum fees needed to cover the running costs of the site. Any money left over after covering operating costs will go towards reducing fees further or improving services for fundraisers and charities.
  • Fundraisers can personalise their fundraising pages, send out email alerts and manage their fundraising events. They can include their own content, photos and links to their page as well as customise messages for their supporters. Fundraisers can also link their page to social networking sites.
  • Virgin Money Giving also contains fundraising ideas and tips, offering help and advice to fundraisers on how to raise more for charity.
  • Virginmoneygiving.com is the official sponsorship website of the Virgin London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, Virgin Active London Triathlon and Nike Run to the Beat.

Majority of Marathon-ers do it for Charity

Published September 13, 2011 Press Releases 3 Comments
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And Marathon runners who set targets raised 58% more than those who didn’t

Over 80% of runners who took part in the Virgin London Marathon raised money for charity, new analysis from not-for-profit online giving site virginmoneygiving.com shows.

Analysis of fundraising at the 2011 event revealed that 86% of those who took part in the race raised money for charity. These ranged from club runners and marathon veterans, to first-timers.

And those who set charity targets raised on average 58% more than those who didn’t publish a fundraising target, the research shows.

Analysis of fundraising at the 2011 event indicates the average amount raised for good causes by those who set a fundraising target was £1,328 excluding Gift Aid, compared with £842 excluding Gift Aid by those who did not.

Using Gift Aid also helped. On virginmoneygiving.com Gift Aid was reclaimed on 88% of all donations, and meant that the average fundraiser accrued £1,436 including Gift Aid.

The figures are contained in a report produced for charities by Virgin Money Giving in conjunction with the Virgin London Marathon, aimed at helping to maximise donations for the 2012 event.

Fundraising figures for the 2011 Marathon show that Virgin is well on course to hit its target of helping to raise £250 million for good causes through the London Marathon by 2015. Runners in the 2011 race raised £51.8 million for charity.

Fundraisers who used virginmoneygiving.com contributed £13.8 million to charity compared with £8.3 million in its first year of operation. 10,231 people used the service in 2011 compared with 6,246 in 2010.

Jo Barnett, executive director at Virgin Money Giving said: “Training for, and running a marathon is no easy feat and our research shows that the main driver for people taking part in the London Marathon is to raise funds for charity. It is great that so many runners see their involvement in the event as a way of encouraging people to donate to charity.

“Setting a target clearly pays off, even if fundraisers do not hit the target, as the 58% difference in average amounts raised demonstrates.

“Charities need all the money they can raise and it is great to see that the vast majority of runners, whatever their aim for the race, are committed to raising money for charity.

The report shows 2011Marathonrunners who set up their fundraising pages when their place was first confirmed in 2010 raised an average of £1,511, including Gift Aid compared with £1,374 for those who waited and started in 2011.

A total of 364,500 donations for theMarathonwere received through virginmoneygiving.com for the 2011 race – 70% higher than the 214,405 in 2010.

Through Virgin Money Giving, for every £10 donated, £12.15 will make its way to the good cause, assuming donors are eligible to sign up to give Gift Aid. Since its launch in October 2009 virginmoneygiving.com has raised close to £75 million.

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To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

Marathon Donations Race Ahead On Virgin Money Giving

Published May 25, 2011 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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And Gift Aid keeps on giving with £2 million extra

Charity donations from the 2011 Virgin London Marathon raced ahead by 67% to nearly £14 million at Virgin Money Giving, new figures show.

The not-for-profit online fundraising website saw total donations hit £13.88 million including Gift Aid from the 2011 Marathon compared with £8.3 million from the 2010 event, which was the first year of Virgin’s sponsorship.

Strong uptake of Gift Aid, which boosts every £1 donated to £1.25, meant that £2.2 million was added to donations.

86% of all donations on virginmoneygiving.com claimed the tax relief, compared with around 40% of all donations made through other means.

More than 350,000 people donated to charity through virginmoneygiving.com for the Marathon compared with 214,405 in 2010 and the average donation was virtually unchanged at £31.34, analysis shows.

The research also showed that those aged 50 years old and above typically benefited from higher average donations than those aged between 25-40. 65 year olds obtained the highest average donation, at just under £50, nearly £20 higher than the average donation.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money Giving, said: “The Virgin London Marathon is the biggest annual fundraising event in the world and the contribution of online giving services is helping it to continue to grow.

“Online giving is the most efficient and cost effective way of donating to charity.”

The Virgin London Marathon on 17 April saw 35,000 runners taking part.

They ranged from the world’s best elite athletes to celebrities such as Dwight Yorke, Agyness Deyn and James Cracknell as well as fundraisers including Steve Chalke who broke the world record for the most donated, seeing his fundraising go through the £2 million barrier.

Other runners such as Danny Baker will have a permanent reminder of the day – he had a tattoo of the Virgin London Marathon logo etched onto his leg following the event.

A total of 13,031 fundraiser pages were set up on virginmoneygiving.com during the run-up to the Marathon compared with 7,189 in 2010 while the average amount raised per fundraiser was around £1,436, including Gift Aid.

Virginmoneygiving.com, the not-for-profit online fundraising website from banking group Virgin Money, has achieved 86% uptake of Gift Aid through its service and has raised more than £50 million for good causes since its launch.

Virginmoneygiving.com has over 3,813 charities registered and 100,000 fundraisers taking part in a range of activities, from the Virgin London Marathon to a team of fundraisers driving a fire engine across the globe.

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To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

Marathon runners raise £1,411 on Virgin Money Giving

Published February 21, 2011 Press Releases 5 Comments
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Data recently released by JustGiving suggested that more money is raised by London Marathon fundraisers through its site compared to the service provided by our not-for-profit online fundraising site Virgin Money Giving. This research used a small sample of two charities and 500 fundraisers. It stated that the average fundraiser raised £714 on Virgin Money Giving compared to £1,173 on JustGiving.

A comprehensive marathon performance report published by us showed that the average 2010 Virgin London Marathon fundraiser on Virgin Money Giving raised £1,411. This figure is based on the entire population of London Marathon fundraisers and charities using virginmoneygiving.com, not a sample.

Jo Barnett, executive director at Virgin Money Giving, said: “Virgin Money Giving was launched in 2009 to grow the overall online fundraising market. When we launched, only 2% of all charitable donations were donated online and it is Virgin Money Giving’s aim to help increase this figure.

“Evidence has proved that online giving is the most beneficial form of giving – boosting Gift Aid as well as cutting costs, time and administration associated with offline donations.

“We are very proud of the work that we have done so far – and that through online giving more money is able to reach good causes.”

The recent Virgin Money Giving Index indicated that the average donation now stands at £34.93, across all fundraising activity – not just marathon donations.

Gift Aid penetration is currently at 87%.

Virgin Money Giving urges charities to go digital

Published October 14, 2010 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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Virgin Money Giving boosts online fundraising market by £20 million

Virgin Money Giving is celebrating its first birthday after boosting the online giving market by more than £21 million in its first 12 months.

And it is urging charities and fundraisers to fully embrace technology as the best way to maximise money for good causes in the face of the ongoing squeeze on charitable giving.

Online giving cuts administration costs, improves Gift Aid uptake and is more convenient and easier to use for charities and fundraisers, Virgin Money Giving says.

Its own not-for-profit model and 2% fee to cover costs means it was able to channel £1 million more to charities during its first year than if the cash had been donated through other online donation services.

But the biggest boost for charities was in the increased take-up of Gift Aid through online services – a key challenge outlined by a report from leading think tank ResPublica which warned that charities were missing out on Gift Aid on donations of under £5.

More than 82% of donations of less than £5 through Virgin Money Giving were boosted by Gift Aid – ResPublica says 80% of charities fail to chase up Gift Aid on donations of less than £5. Total Gift Aid uptake through Virgin Money Giving is 87% compared with just 40% through other fundraising methods according to the Charities Aid Foundation. As a result of Gift Aid on donations, the £20 million raised on Virgin Money Giving has been boosted to £25 million.

Holly Branson, patron of Virgin Money Giving, said: “Charities and fundraisers are having to work extra hard to raise money which makes it even more important that costs are kept to a minimum.

“I am pleased that Virgin Money Giving has been able to increase the money going to good causes in its first year but there is a lot more to do.”

For every £10 donated on Virgin Money Giving £12.47 makes its way to charity assuming Gift Aid donors are UK taxpayers.

Virgin Money Giving has over 2,400 charities registered and 40,000 fundraisers taking part in a range of activities, from the Virgin London Marathon to a team of fundraisers driving a fire engine across the globe.

Jo Barnett, executive director at Virgin Money Giving, said: “Since launch we have helped charities raise £25 million which is a fantastic achievement. With continued uncertainty around the economic situation, charities need to make the most of every single donation.

“Having been in the market for a year it is great that we have been able to drive more fundraisers and donors online – enabling charities to make the most of donations and the added Gift Aid.”

Virgin London Marathon ballot entries confirmed

Published October 12, 2010 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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Runners accepted into the 2011 Virgin London Marathon have been urged to set up their fundraising pages early to help charities maximise donations.

Analysis from Virgin Money Giving the not-for-profit online fundraising website showed that fundraisers who set up their page between October and December last year raised, on average, £200 more than those that left it until the final few months.

Over 30,000 runners had their ballot places confirmed in early October and with less than six months to go until the 26.2 mile race participants have been urged to start fundraising.

The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising even in the world and over the course of the sponsorship deal announced by Virgin Money, set to run until 2014, it is hoped that over £250 million will go to good causes.

Fundraisers who used Virgin Money Giving rather than any other fundraising website for their 2010 marathon fundraising helped contribute to charities receiving an extra £347,000.

The 2010 Virgin London Marathon raised £50.6 million for charity, with hopes to exceed this for the 2011 race.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money Giving, said: “The London Marathon is an iconic event and the largest annual fundraising event in the world.

“With over 35,000 runners set to take to the capitals streets on 17 April 2011 there are high hopes that runners will be able to exceed last years total and raise even more for good causes.”

Oxfam has been chosen as the official charity of the 2011 Virgin London Marathon.

Virgin Money Giving, the not-for-profit online fundraising site was launched in 2009, following the sponsorship by Virgin, of the London Marathon. To date Virgin Money Giving has raised over £20 million, with over 32,000 fundraisers signed up and close to 2,000 charities.

Go west (London) for the UK’s best charity fundraisers

Published August 31, 2010 Press Releases 4 Comments
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And Tonbridge, Aberdeen, Chelmsford and South West London also do well, says Virgin Money Giving

West London is the charity fundraising capital of the UK, analysis from not-for-profit online fundraising service Virgin Money Giving shows.

Fundraisers in West London raised an average of £1,260 for good causes putting them way ahead of the nearest contenders in Tonbridge, Kent, who raised an average £922 per event, analysis of donations through the site for the past nine months reveals.

Other fundraising hotspots across the UK revealed by Virgin Money Giving were South West London and Chelmsford in Essex which tied on £800 and Aberdeen where fundraisers managed £791.

Virgin Money Giving, the not-for-profit online fundraising site researched the top 50 regions for fundraiser activity.

Examining the data by region, London came top with £833 while North Scotland made it into second place with average amounts raised reaching £707.

Continue reading ‘Go west (London) for the UK’s best charity fundraisers’

Making the great runs £1 million greater

Published August 5, 2010 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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Charities will be Great Run winners online, says Virgin Money Giving

Charity fundraisers taking part in the Great North Run and other Great Run events this year could raise close to £30 million if they go online to organise their fundraising, according to Virgin Money Giving.

Last year the Great Run Series of events, which includes the Great North and South Runs and the Great Yorkshire, Manchester and Edinburgh races, raised over £28 million for good causes*.

But if fundraisers were to raise the same amount this year on Virgin Money Giving, at least another £1 million would make its way to charity.

Assuming an average donation of £24, with Gift Aid uptake at 87% of total donations, the £28 million raised last year would be boosted to £29.06 million if fundraisers were to use Virgin Money Giving.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money Giving, said: “The Great Run series of events raise considerable funds for charity.

“Every penny counts for charities and with Virgin Money Giving, more money will make its way to good causes, with £12.46 going to charity for every £10 donated.”

Virgin Money Giving recently passed the £16 million barrier and has over 1,500 charities signed up and over 31,000 fundraisers.

virginmoneygiving.com is the official sponsorship website of the Virgin London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon and ‘Run to the Beat’.

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Notes to Editors

http://www.greatrun.org/charities/default.aspx

To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

Generous Britons keep on giving despite economic squeeze

Published July 29, 2010 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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Virgin Money Giving launches Charity Donations Index

Average charity donations are recovering as fundraisers and donors remain committed to backing good causes despite the current economic squeeze, new research from Virgin Money Giving shows.

Analysis of donations through the not-for-profit online fundraising site shows the average amount given rose to £31.24 in June compared with £30.59 in April and £29.29 in May 2010.

Its research shows average donations – before Gift Aid which adds 28% to money given by eligible UK taxpayers – peaked at Christmas before gradually declining from the £35.69 in December to a low in May.

However June showed a recovery in average donations compared with April -when the Virgin London Marathon meant a surge in donations across the site – and May. Average donations were 6.6% up in June compared with May.

Jo Barnett, executive director of Virgin Money Giving said: “The current state of the economy means something’s got to give but so far charity giving is holding up well. People remain generous despite impending tax rises and threats of rising unemployment and public sector cutbacks.

“However average donations are under strain as people struggle to make ends meet and it is vital that fundraisers, charities and donors boost their giving power by making full use of Gift Aid and efficient fundraising.”

Virgin Money Giving figures show that while over £5 million was donated in April through virginmoneygiving.com, during the lead up to the Virgin London Marathon, around £1.5 million was donated to non-marathon related fundraising causes.

Donors using the site can instantly add Gift Aid to the money they are giving – Virgin Money Giving currently sees 86% of all donations submitted claiming Gift Aid which is more than double the average 40%* for all donations such as collections and through sponsorship forms.

The not-for-profit fundraising service, which charges 2% for donations compared with an industry average of 5% in order to ensure as much money goes to good causes as possible, has launched its Charity Donations Index to help fundraisers and charities monitor how well-off – or badly off – donors feel they are.

It will update every three months giving an up-to-date snapshot of the state of giving across the UK highlighting issues of concern to charities and fundraisers.

Virgin Money Giving currently has more than 1,800 charities registered on the site from a standing start in October with more than 29,000 fundraisers using the site to raise a total of over £15 million.

virginmoneygiving.com, which is free for fundraisers, charges a flat £100 + VAT registration fee for charities and a 2% fee on all donations before Gift Aid which means for every £10 donation, charities will receive £12.46.

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Notes to Editors

*UK Giving 2009 study from the Charities Aid Foundation and NCVO.

To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

Online expansion makes Gift Aid work harder for charities, says Virgin Money Giving

Published July 8, 2010 Press Releases Leave a Comment
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Government rules out Gift Aid increase

Virgin Money Giving is urging charities to do all they can to maximise Gift Aid take-up after Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd confirmed that any increases to Gift Aid rates for charities is “unlikely”.

The Minister told the Institute of Fundraising’s National Convention that the focus on reducing the public sector deficit meant a rate increase in the Gift Aid percentage was ruled out.

But Virgin Money Giving says charities can substantially increase Gift Aid earnings by using online donations – research conducted in 2009* revealed that online donations provided the greatest Gift Aid take-up.

The not-for-profit fundraising service, which has raised over £14 million since its launch in October 2009, currently sees 86% of all donations submitted claiming Gift Aid – more than double the 40% for all donations*, such as collections and through sponsorship forms.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money Giving said: “Gift Aid is a priority for charities and the news that the Government is unlikely to raise this threshold means that charities need to make sure that Gift Aid take-up is at the highest possible level.

“By donating online, donors can easily acknowledge their Gift Aid eligibility, and charities can receive payments quickly and securely, which supports Nick Hurd’s pledge to drill down on bureaucracy in the sector.

“With only 2% of all charitable donations currently conducted online, the sector as a whole should be working together to promote online giving as the most efficient avenue for improving Gift Aid take-up and raising overall donations for charity.”

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Notes to Editors

*UK Giving 2009 study from the Charities Aid Foundation and NCVO.

To view more of our press releases click here. or for further information visit our press centre.

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