Many people love to donate to small charity, but are put off if bombarded with letters and emails, once they start to give.
And many people like to donate to different causes, and then feel guilty if they choose a different cause each month, when being asked by previous charities to donate again.
Giving should be private anyway. Sign up with Charities Aid Foundation (or just tick the ‘anonymous box’ for one-off donations). Once registered, you can donate to who you like, and your details won’t be passed on. It also runs a bank account for small charities.
This idea was to help stop situations like happened with Olive, a kind widowed poppy seller in Bristol. Although she had depression anyway, she jumped off a bridge in her 80s.
It was later found that she had given to big charities, who had sold her name to others. She was giving nearly all her income away, responding to hundreds of requests for donations.
Researching Small Charities
Once you know your values, it’s time to find small charities that match them. They may not have big marketing budgets, so finding them may take more effort.
Start by entering your charity focus (and area if apt) at Find That Charity. It will bring up big charities first, but also smaller registered ones. Then look each one up at the government’s Register of Charities. This will tell you what their income/expenditure is, and if anyone earns over £60,000.
Finally, find out if the charity tests on animals. Animal Aid has an extensive list (green charities don’t test, and red charities do).
No-Brainer Way to Raise Funds for Charities
easyfundraising is a great way to raise money, as it donates money to your favourite causes, from items you already buy.
Just sign up, and if you shop at one of the 6000 brands (from local zero waste shops and indie brands to Amazon and Argos), you donate simply from buying train tickets to laptops to insurance.
Retailers pays a set fee or percentage, depending on their policy. Donations are sent to charities each quarter, and the service does not affect loyalty points.
