Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home - a fundamental human right that serves as the foundation for employment, health, education, and strong communities. However, like many charities, they faced significant challenges in maximising their Gift Aid claims, particularly with incomplete donor information.
Not all donations are made with complete contact details. Without vital information like names, addresses, or email addresses, asking donors to complete retrospective Gift Aid declarations becomes impossible, explains Michael Fleming, Gift Aid Manager at Shelter.
The Gift Aid Challenge
Even with contactable donors, the Gift Aid journey wasn’t straightforward. From time-to-time we have returning donors give another donation with more details, but unfortunately we still find that the all-important “tick” for Gift Aid is missing, notes Fleming. This persistent challenge led Shelter to explore innovative solutions for recovering missing Gift Aid.
Discovering Swiftaid’s Solution
When presented with the opportunity to participate in the Great Gift Aid Hunt using Swiftaid’s Gift Aid Finder tool, the decision was straightforward. Fleming explains:
It’s a second chance at claiming Gift Aid we missed. When you understand the way it works and “the penny drops”, you suddenly wish this existed years ago! Like most charities, we want to ensure we’re getting as much income as we can – This tool seemed like a no-brainer.
Implementation and Results
The implementation process proved remarkably straightforward. Using the Gift Aid Finder itself is easy. It’s clear on what needs to be done with the spreadsheet & documentation Swiftaid provide, shares Fleming. While specific figures remain confidential, the impact has been significant.
When you’ve got a company “tapping in” to a donation platform like JustGiving, this opens up massive opportunities. I wasn’t surprised by the results, but I was certainly ecstatic!
Making a Real Difference
The additional Gift Aid income has directly contributed to Shelter’s vital work. Fleming elaborates: Money like this helps us put someone on the end of a phone, giving advice to those who might have just been evicted through no fault of their own. It helps us speak to people with lived experience of homelessness in how we can fix the broken system. It helps us campaign in our fight for more social homes to be built.
Advice to Other Charities
For organisations considering the Gift Aid Finder, Fleming’s advice is clear:
Speak with Swiftaid… you’ve got nothing to lose. If you’re still unsure, give it a try with a select cohort of donations. When you see the money come in and how easy the process is, speaking from experience, you’ll have wished you’d selected more donations like your regular givers.
Conclusion
The partnership between Shelter and Swiftaid has proven transformative, with Fleming describing the Gift Aid Finder as something I now look forward to each year in finding out how much extra money we’ll find. His enthusiasm is evident in his closing remarks: I wish I’d thought of this idea myself!
For charities considering the tool, Fleming emphasises the low-risk, high-reward nature of the service: This practical approach to recovering missing Gift Aid has become an integral part of Shelter’s fundraising strategy, helping them continue their crucial work in defending the right to a safe home.