Just Giving

[maggiebee]

Not sure if this has been posted before? Have just read that JustGiving took a £308,000 fee from Colonel Tom Moore's £32m NHS walk. That's a lot of donations from ordinary folk. Understand there are calls for this money to be given back.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8299805/Calls-JustGiving-hand-308-000-fee-Colonel-Tom-Moores-32m-NHS-walk.html?fbclid=IwAR0UwS98r2Y4R7qngjrbjOfxVuh-VgpcuyoMpNhuiZJPrBb7F42VCeXbZo0

[Zacs-Master]

https://fullfact.org/online/justgiving-commission-captain-tom/

[youngmafbog]

Why do people continue to use this organisation if they are so concerned about their fees? to be fair to them they are quite clear about it and there has been much publicity in the past.

Although I do have to say £308K is an awfully big fee.

[barry1010]

JustGiving can't operate for free - it costs them money to process debit and credit card payments. They also have staff to pay and general running costs. JustGiving has said at least 97% of monies will go to the NHS.

[rockyracoon]

I think they should be able to keep it. They have to pay for the platform and all that goes with it. They are a business at the end of the day.

[maggiebee]

Don't disagree RR, but how many £5 and £10 donations go to making up £308k. If folk knew their money would never reach its intended destination, how many would actually donate?

[bhg481]

That represents about 1% of the contributions, most of which would have been relatively small and by credit/debit card. The amount credit card companies take for processing a payment depends on the size of payment (I think it's a percentage on small amounts, reducing for large amounts); if they only take 1% that leaves nothing for Just Giving and I thought it was nearer to 2 or 3%.

[barry1010]

JustGiving has donated £100k to the NHS.
If people donated online directly to the NHS charity, as I did, the NHS would still not receive 100% of the donation because they have to pay to process the payment.

[barry1010]

This is the NHS charity for those considering donating
https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/

[bhg481]

You could get round the transaction fee by sending cash through the post; unfortunately the cost of postage would be more than the transaction fee for donations of less than about £50.

[barry1010]

And then people would have to be paid to count and bank the cash

[woofgang]

I never donate through justgiving for that reason

[naomi24]

Whatever is given to charity by whatever means results in some funds being lost to fees of one sort or another. Major charities employ people and pay their wages - and more - from the pot. No cause ever gets one hundred per cent of the money given.

[woofgang]

yes but if you got through somewhere like justgiving to give to a charity, the donations get reduced twice.

[naomi24]

That's true, but what we have to bear in mind here is that when that page was set up the target was £1000. Who could have imagined the fantastic result?

[iluvmargie]

It's a drop in the ocean compared to the £30m donated. Well done Tom x

[royfromaus]

Question Author
Don't disagree RR, but how many £5 and £10 donations go to making up £308k. If folk knew their money would never reach its intended destination, how many would actually donate?






The vast majority of anyone's individual donation does make it to its destination.
So in answer to the first bit...Zero

[Maydup]

Its fair to assume any payment method to any charity or business will incur a processing fee. Just Giving is no exception and the percentage is not as high as some.

I think most people who donate do realise that but for anyone who doesnt, its always fairly easy to check at the point of donation.

[Peter Pedant]

you should always give via giftaid direct to the charity
then it is tax deductible and they get even more

saying that just giving's fee is justifiable because because the final charity will always have overheads - is a standard howling AB non sequitur because the charitys overheads will still be there

the fee for just giving is 'as well as' and not "instead of"

you always really knew that innit? yeah of course you did - shouldnt stop you giving etc....
have a good night everyone

[barry1010]

maggie, you ask how many people would not have donated had they been aware of the fees. How many people would have donated if they had to get off their backsides and post a cheque or deliver cash? I bet a lot would have had every intention but never got round to it.

[barry1010]

Peter, it is easier for the charity to handle one huge lump than literally millions of lesser amounts, don't you think?
I agree people should give directly to the charity but JustGiving makes it so easy for individuals like Colonel Tom to highlight their cause and raise money, not promises.