Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Funding Scheme (NFS)?

National Funding Scheme is a registered charity (charity no: 1149800 and SC045106) set up in March 2013 with the clear objective to enable any organisation with a charitable purpose to fundraise using digital technology. NFS has developed a national tool of mobile giving – DONATE™ – which any charitable organisation can adopt, thereby totally transforming the way the public can give to charitable causes.

What is DONATE™?

DONATE™ is the mobile platform and the public-facing brand of NFS. Wherever people see the DONATE™ sign, asking them to support a particular campaign, they can make a donation through digital channels using their mobile device (phone or tablet). DONATE™ combines contactless, SMS texting, Near Field Communication, QR codes and web apps into one simple platform meaning supporters can donate through one recognised brand via multiple channels.

How are donations made?

NFS provides a cloud based fundraising platform. Partner organisations promote and encourage giving through digital devices. Supporters can give by: using a contactless tap+DONATE™ box; sending a text message via mobile using specific codes (donations appear on phone bills); or accessing the DONATE™ website via mobile device by entering a web address or scanning QR codes, with donations made via PayPal, credit and debit cards.

Can I use DONATE™ if I'm not a registered or exempt charity or wishing to fundraise as an individual?

All UK registered charities, excepted charities and exempted charities can use DONATE™. Religious bodies, CASCs, land trusts, CICs, CIOs, and other incorporated bodies that meet certain charitable objectives can also register. Unincorporated charitable associations can join by registering as a non-charity. Individuals cannot register directly but need to find a permitted body to accept donations. Overseas and UK organisations not meeting charitable criteria may still be able to use DONATE™ subject to agreement.

How do I join DONATE™?

To join DONATE™ please go to: https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/become-a-partner-organisation/. A video explaining the registration process is available at http://vimeo.com/257949883.

How do I track donations and manage my account?

An online portal is made available to all registered organisations. Within the portal you can get reports of recent donations, set-up/activate/de-activate campaigns, manage text and web responses and much more.

Where do I find marketing materials, logos and templates?

The Promoting your Campaign webpage (https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/promotion/) provides tips, advice and links to logos and further information.

Can I find out more?

Please go to the donation platform – www.easydonate.org – to discover more and see the campaigns being supported. You can also email hello@nationalfundingscheme.org with any general enquiries.

What are your standard fees?

Per transaction fees vary by type: Charities pay 4.5% (+22p per web donation) for web & SMS without Gift Aid, 45% of Gift Aid (+22p per web donation) for Gift Aided, and 2.95% for contactless. Non-charities pay 5% (+22p per web donation) without Gift Aid, 100% of Gift Aid (+22p per web donation) for Gift Aided, and 5% for contactless. An outpayment charge (greater of £3 or 0.5% for charities, £3 or 1.5% for non-charities) plus a fixed £7.50 overhead charge applies.

How and when will my organisation be paid?

Payments are made monthly from reconciled donations received 3 months previously and include collected Gift Aid. For example, donations made in April will be paid out in July. Payments are held over until the amount owing is at or above £100 (or closure of your account). Text providers make payments every 60-90 days and funds are released once received, audited and settled.

Auction fees

Charity auctions: 4.5% + 22p on hammer price or starting bid value (whichever is higher) and 45% of Gift Aid when applicable. Non-charity auctions: 5% + 22p on hammer price. Listing charges may be incurred for auctions with more than 30 lots. If the value of all starting lots is less than £1500, a charge of £100 is made for setting up the online auction.

How secure is your payment platform?

All donations via SMS text are added to the donor's phone-bill, meaning no credit or debit card details are required. For payments made via app or contactless, all credit/debit card details are held by Barclaycard SmartPay or PayPal. Both are PCI-compliant and no credit/debit card details are ever held by NFS.

Where does the money go when a donation is made?

A donation, including any gift aid, is made to a separated bank account belonging to the National Funding Scheme (a charity registered in England and Scotland) and indicates the campaign the donor is supporting. This will be paid across to the relevant charitable organisation subject to the terms of the Affiliation Agreement.

Additional costs

If you have bespoke requests there may be additional charges. A breakdown of event-specific fees (rental of iPads, staffing etc) is available in the Affiliation Agreement.

Can someone give any amount via DONATE™?

Supporters can donate £3, £5, £10, £20 and £30 by text. Any amount (above £1) can be given by web without an upper limit. Contactless units currently have a minimum of £1 and a limit of £30 per transaction or no upper limit when using the chip+PIN facility.

We are under 2 years old and/or don't have audited accounts. Can we still register?

Yes. NFS welcomes newly created charities (and non-charities) that meet requirements. If your organisation is under 2 years old (or does not have accounts submitted to the Charity Commission) then send as many of the following as possible: previous year's annual accounts, budget for upcoming year, Charity Commission acceptance notification, and business plan. All organisations also need a signed bank-statement and references (non-charities only). Approval may take up to one week.

How is Gift Aid collected?

National Funding Scheme collects and then passes across to the charity any due Gift Aid. Gift Aid increases the value of a donation by allowing UK taxpayers to reclaim basic rate tax (20%) on their gift, meaning a £10 donation is worth £12.50. Higher-rate taxpayers can also receive back up to 31.5% through a tax reclaim. Donors must register for Gift Aid when giving through DONATE™, and Gift Aid will then be collected on all future donations.

Is there a legal agreement?

All organisations using DONATE™ need to agree to the terms and conditions. There are separate Affiliation Agreements for charities and non-charities. The charity Affiliation Agreement and non-charity Affiliation Agreement are available on the NFS website.

How is data used?

National Funding Scheme is GDPR compliant and registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (reg. no. Z353234X). Donor email addresses are obtained to send thank you messages and receipts. Credit/debit card details are held by Barclaycard SmartPay or PayPal (PCI-compliant). Donors can opt to share their information with NFS, the receiving organisation, and/or all DONATE™ organisations. NFS produces statistical reports and case studies but no personal data is ever revealed.

How do I make my campaign a success?

Key factors: Select a specific, attainable, tangible and bite-size cause (£1k-£10k bracket works best). Promote the cause through physical signage, emails, mailshots, auto-signatures, newsletters and print. Use QR codes to signal interaction with supporters. Place signage where potential donors congregate and are emotionally engaged. Ensure your teams (front-of-house, volunteers, comms) understand the cause and how DONATE™ works.

Selecting a strong campaign keyword

The platform is highly configurable. An auto-generated campaign keyword is provided for each new campaign but you can request a change to something more relevant. Recommended: a word that is specific and descriptive (e.g. CANTEEN, APRONS, MUGS). To request a new keyword, go to your portal > My Campaigns > Edit > Request a new code.

Can I leave a personalised message for donors?

Once registered, partner organisations can add a personalised message sent to donors. Log in and go to My Causes, click 'edit' on your chosen cause. You can add text-based personalised messages to thank and engage with donors. Donors receive one message in their browser after donating and a second as a follow-up email, both appearing above DONATE's standardised thank you message.

How do I administrate my campaigns?

Once registered, your organisation has access to a self-serve portal providing administration access over your organisation and campaigns, promotional material, options to further promote your campaign, and real-time reports. A dedicated video is available at http://vimeo.com/257950426.

How should I promote my causes?

DONATE™ provides a range of tools. People: use staff and volunteers, get talent involved, hold special events. Physical: include codes in printed materials, use signage in venues and on banners, use portable signage, include in member magazines. Digital: social media, embed DONATE™ button on website, email auto-signatures, e-newsletters, links in apps, references in audio guides, embed codes in video clips, promotional screens, and gamification.