Online fundraising is one of the most effective ways for UK charities, PTAs, sports clubs and community groups to raise money. Every eligible online donation in the UK can also attract Gift Aid, 25p on top of every £1 given by a UK taxpayer, reclaimed straight from HMRC by your charity (Gift Aid guidance, gov.uk).
In this guide we cover the benefits of virtual fundraising, 29 ideas for charities of every size, and tips to help your next online fundraiser succeed.
In this article:
Here are our top 29 online fundraising ideas, grouped by category
What is online fundraising?
Online fundraising covers all the ways charities and individuals can raise funds on the internet, typically using an online fundraising platform. Email, social media and virtual fundraising platforms have made raising funds faster, cheaper and easier to manage.
What are the benefits of virtual fundraising?
Virtual fundraising can benefit charities, donors and sponsors in a range of ways.
Reach a larger audience
Online events remove geographical limits. Charities can use video conferencing platforms, social media campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising and other online approaches to share their message and connect with existing and new supporters worldwide.
Online fundraisers are cost-effective
One of the biggest pain points for small UK charities is the fragmented tool stack: a £15 fete ticket, an autumn appeal, a Christmas raffle and a sponsored 5K currently means juggling Ticket Tailor, JustGiving, Crowdfunder and a separate CRM, each with its own fee. Virtual fundraising reduces that overhead significantly.
Zeffy is the only platform that consolidates donations, ticketing, raffles, memberships, auctions and supporter management in one place, free, with Gift Aid handling built in. No platform fee, no transaction fee, no card processing fee. Ever.
Online fundraising is convenient
Postal campaigns and in-person events cost more and take more time than most virtual fundraising approaches. With virtual fundraising, charities can share their mission, raise funds and build donor relationships in one place. Approaches like peer-to-peer and crowdfunding campaigns help charities save money and time, and give donors and volunteers more flexible ways to support their favourite causes.
Gift Aid runs automatically
A good UK online fundraising platform captures the Gift Aid declaration at the point of donation, the donor's full name, home address and confirmation that they are a UK taxpayer (Gift Aid, gov.uk). The charity then submits claims to HMRC via Charities Online. Your charity must be separately HMRC-recognised (distinct from registration with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR or CCNI) to claim Gift Aid.
Key facts to keep in mind:
- The charity reclaims 25p for every £1 donated by a basic-rate taxpayer.
- Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can claim the difference through Self Assessment.
- Claims can be submitted for up to four years; keep declarations for at least six years.
- The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) lets charities claim a 25% top-up on small cash and contactless donations of £30 or less, without a written declaration, up to £8,000 in eligible donations per tax year (a £2,000 top-up). (Charity Tax Group)
More fundraising options
Virtual fundraising opens up a wide range of income streams for smaller organisations. A few examples include:
- Gift Aid on every eligible cash donation (25p per £1 from HMRC)
- Payroll Giving via HMRC-approved agencies (donations from pre-tax salary)
- Direct Debit regular giving via providers such as GoCardless
- GASDS top-up on small cash and contactless donations under £30
- Gifts in kind (reported under SORP)
- Match funding via the Big Give Christmas Challenge, Crowdfunder grant pots and the National Lottery Community Fund
- Recurring giving and membership drives
- Virtual auctions and online shops
Immediate feedback
Donor feedback is one of the most valuable benefits of online fundraising. Virtual fundraising tools give charities real-time tracking and response data that help them adapt their appeals and communication strategies quickly.
Real-time tracking
Online fundraising software can offer real-time tracking and reporting. Tools like Zeffy automatically add donor contact and gift information to your organisation's data-management system. This lets charities create reports and share campaign progress online and during events. Some tools also offer live event displays to build excitement with your audience.
Live chats
Social media has made it easier than ever to engage your donor base directly. Live chats let charities respond to comments in real time, limiting the chance for misinformation to spread. Charities can also host online chats during virtual and hybrid events to keep remote attendees engaged.
Better sponsor perks
Corporate sponsors contribute to charities for both altruistic and marketing reasons. Charities that can offer strong sponsor perks will win their support. Emails and social media posts with video updates from sponsors give businesses more opportunities to connect with your audience.
One important UK distinction: UK corporate sponsors will expect to see your Fundraising Regulator badge and registered charity number before signing off on a partnership. It shows you operate to the Code of Fundraising Practice. On the tax side, corporate Gift Aid works differently from individual Gift Aid, companies deduct charitable donations from profits before tax, but the charity does not make an additional Gift Aid reclaim on company donations.
If you have existing relationships with local or national businesses, ask whether they can sponsor your event with match funding. Campaign-window match funding (the Big Give Christmas Challenge, Crowdfunder grant pots) is often more accessible for small UK charities than employer-matching databases.
Online fundraising is environmentally friendly
Concerns about climate and sustainability are high on many donors' minds. Virtual fundraising reduces your organisation's environmental footprint, fewer printed materials, no venue travel, less waste. Environmental charities can use virtual events to highlight this directly.
Online fundraising is more secure
Cash donations carry real risk, misplacement, miscounting, no audit trail. Online fundraising platforms remove most of that risk. Platforms store donation amounts, donor contact information and gift details securely.
UK charities are right to ask "Are you GDPR compliant?" before adopting any new platform. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 sit under the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Direct email fundraising also has to clear the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The Code of Fundraising Practice (current version, effective 1 November 2025) requires charities to have a lawful basis before sharing or using donor data for marketing. Good platforms are PCI DSS compliant, use data encryption and are built with UK GDPR compliance as standard.
29 online fundraising ideas to raise money
Online fundraising campaigns and events can build community, raise awareness for your cause and generate income from a national or global audience.
- 3. Virtual University and UCAS Prep Evening
- 13. Multiplayer Video Games
- 17. Recurring Giving or Membership Drive
- 20. Virtual Silent Auction
- 25. Virtual Sponsored Walk
- 27. Virtual Comedy Night or Poetry Reading
Online fundraising ideas for schools
Fundraising for schools is often run by Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) or Parent Friends Associations (PFAs). These groups are led entirely by volunteers and tend to have high turnover. Virtual fundraising is ideal for them: it is straightforward to run, and donor details are collected and stored automatically. Many PTAs are registered charities in their own right or HMRC-recognised, which means Gift Aid can apply to eligible donations, a significant uplift for volunteer-run groups.
One common pain point for PTAs and village-hall committees is per-ticket fees: even a modest fee on a £5 to £10 fete ticket can swallow the entire margin. Look for a platform that charges nothing to the organiser.
1. Wishlist drives
A wishlist drive is a simple online fundraiser for schools. Add the list of needs to your school's website and share it via email and social media to parents and the wider community. Keep the wishlist live throughout the year or run it as a time-limited campaign with a clear start and end date.
2. Online scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts work online just as well as in person. Schools can build a theme around school spirit or a current topic, then invite classrooms to compete against each other, or open it to the whole community.
Start with a theme, then choose a list of items to find or activities to complete. Teams register for the event and collect pledges from friends and family to support the school.
3. Virtual university and UCAS prep evening
A virtual UCAS and university prep evening will not immediately raise funds, but it strengthens relationships with students, parents and the local community. Schools can offer online sessions with teachers, sixth-form tutors, careers advisers and university admissions staff covering UCAS personal statements, university open days and student finance. Local businesses and further-education partners can help fund these sessions.
4. Read-a-thon
A read-a-thon, like a sponsored walk, is a way for schools to engage students and parents while raising money. Individual students or whole classes sign up and raise funds through peer-to-peer campaigns.
5. Virtual food festival
Communities across the UK are more culturally diverse than ever, a food festival is a great way to celebrate that and involve new families. Schools can run hybrid food festivals by selling tickets to an in-person event and live-streaming it for donors further afield.
Schools can sell food and branded items to raise additional funds using an online shop. Schools can also film local chefs preparing a popular dish and link to local restaurants or suppliers where supporters can find ingredients to cook at home.
6. Virtual trivia night
Trivia nights are a fun fundraising idea for schools that work equally well in person or online. Parents and students can create quiz rounds on school history or local knowledge. School groups can sell tickets or register attendees online.
For a fully virtual event, ask for donations during the quiz or add a raffle or silent auction to build excitement. Ask your PTA members to approach local businesses for raffle prizes or silent-auction lots, and offer sponsorship perks such as social media promotion before, during and after the event.
7. Virtual talent show
Talent shows still draw big audiences, Britain's Got Talent and The Voice UK prove it. Your school can borrow the format for a virtual fundraiser, and there is no shortage of talented students to take part. The chance to perform for an online audience should inspire plenty of entries.
All you need is an indoor or outdoor space with a decent sound system and camera, a smartphone may be enough. You can livestream a live event or record each performer and combine them into a full show with sponsor messages and other fundraising moments.
Most supporters will not pay to watch a virtual talent show on its own, so pair it with an online giving page, a raffle, a silent auction or product sales. You can also invite people to vote for their favourite acts by making a donation, the act that raises the most wins a prize.
Online fundraising ideas for individuals
Charities that turn supporters into fundraisers have a better chance of reaching a wider audience and raising more money. The ideas below are straightforward for individuals or small groups to run independently.
8. Offer your expertise
Every individual has skills and experience they can offer the community, whether you are a graphic designer, gardener, counsellor or bookkeeper. Individuals who want to support a cause can offer their skills to a charity or use them to raise money through a sponsored activity.
One important point on UK tax rules: services and pro-bono time are not eligible for Gift Aid. HMRC requires Gift Aid to be claimed on cash gifts from UK taxpayers, a service or a donated skill does not qualify (Gift Aid, gov.uk). The practical alternative: set a fundraising target, deliver the service, and invite the recipient to make a donation to the charity via a Zeffy peer-to-peer fundraising page. The cash donation can then attract Gift Aid in the usual way.
9. E-card campaign
E-card campaigns are an imaginative way for individuals to raise money for a favourite charity. A supporter can set up a peer-to-peer fundraising page and offer to write personalised thank-you cards or seasonal greetings for friends and family in exchange for a donation to the charity. The donation itself, a straightforward cash gift, can attract Gift Aid if the donor is a UK taxpayer.
10. Virtual happy hour
Virtual happy hours became a fixture during the pandemic and have stayed popular among friends and family who live far apart. Tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams make hosting easy, set a time, suggest a similar drink and enjoy time together online. (Check out our best free tools for charities.)
To turn it into a fundraiser, livestream a short talk from someone at your favourite charity and ask for donations. You can add a raffle or product sales to boost the total.
11. Online cooking class
Online cooking classes are a simple fundraising idea for individuals. If you have supporters who love to cook or bake, encourage them to record a video or livestream a class. Charities can share the session with their audience.
Share a date, time and ingredients list in advance so people can join and take part. During the class, interview someone from the charity or connect the recipe to the organisation's mission. Finish with a raffle for a kitchen tool or sell the dish online to raise additional funds.
12. Virtual movie night
Individuals can host online film nights and raise money for their favourite charity through a raffle or online donations. Livestream a popular film or ask the charity for a suggestion that fits their mission.
Online fundraising ideas for charities
Charities have quickly recognised the value of online fundraising. There is no better way to reach a wider audience and raise money more efficiently.
13. Multiplayer video games
Add competition to a virtual fundraising event with a multiplayer video game. Run a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign alongside it, ask players to collect donations to win prizes such as gift vouchers for local game shops. If you can partner with a game developer, you may be able to offer in-game rewards for the top fundraisers.
Choose a date and time, and share players' live streams on social media or your website. Set fundraising goals for the campaign and individual players, and use a fundraising thermometer to show how close each team is to their target.
A multiplayer video game event can also open doors to corporate sponsors you might not have considered, contact local and national game shops and developers and explore the best ways to approach them with your peer-to-peer campaign here.
14. Virtual tour
Charities that work overseas or on site at their own facilities can offer virtual tours for supporters. A virtual tour can be a reward for major donors and members, or a way to extend your organisation's mission to a new audience.
Connect a virtual tour to a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a specific project. When donors see the direct impact of their gifts, they are more likely to give again. Focus on storytelling and beneficiary interviews rather than statistics.
15. Video telethon
Today, charities of every size can host video telethons using Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. Start by building a programme that will draw in an audience, a talent show, interviews with people your charity has supported, and other ideas that reflect your work.
Choose a date and time to livestream the event and promote it via social media and email. Set up a landing page on your website for the telethon and create an online donation page where supporters can give, buy raffle tickets and purchase any products.
16. Match funding drive
One of the most effective ways for charities to raise money online is a match-funding campaign. In the UK, match funding tends to come through campaign windows rather than employer-by-employer databases. Key routes include:
- The Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK's largest online matched-giving campaign, where a Champion match-funder doubles donations during a set window.
- Crowdfunder match pots via the Aviva Community Fund, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and local authority partnerships.
- National Lottery Community Fund match funding rounds.
Payroll Giving (the HMRC-approved scheme that lets employees donate straight from their pre-tax salary) is the more common workplace giving mechanism in the UK. (NCVO)
17. Recurring giving or membership drive
A recurring giving or membership drive gives charities the predictable income they need to plan events and programmes. The best way to grow recurring gifts is with a focused campaign that educates donors about the difference a regular gift makes and offers meaningful perks for long-term supporters.
18. Emergency campaign
Climate events, flooding and crisis situations such as foodbank surges can require charities to raise money quickly. Online crowdfunding campaigns are often the fastest route. For UK-based emergencies, the Trussell Trust network provides the largest foodbank infrastructure in the UK; for international humanitarian crises, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) coordinates major UK charity appeals.
19. DIY volunteer day
Many UK employers offer one to five days of paid volunteering per year through their corporate social responsibility programmes, and some match volunteers' time with a monetary gift to the charity. Charities can post volunteer opportunities on their website and connect with local companies to explore those arrangements. Supporters sign up online, and the charity sends proof of volunteering to the employer.
20. Virtual silent auction
A virtual silent auction is one of the easiest fundraising events a charity can run. Silent auctions connect you with people who do not yet know your organisation and open doors to businesses. Zeffy helps charities host a virtual silent auction for free.
Create an event form and add every item or basket you plan to auction. Add a custom question for bids. As bids arrive, update the description to reflect the latest amount. When bidding closes, adjust the final price and add the winner's name so they can pay online easily.
Before your event, promote the date and time on social media. Highlight a different auction item or basket each week with compelling images and descriptions. Let supporters register for a bid number in advance so the event runs smoothly.
One UK-specific note: Gift Aid does not apply to the auction lot itself if the winner pays fair value, the winner receives goods or services in return. Gift Aid can apply to any voluntary additional donation made separately.
Online fundraising ideas for sports teams
Sports teams need fundraising to cover kit, venue hire and other essentials. The following online fundraising ideas keep the process straightforward and affordable.
21. Equipment drive
An equipment drive works like a wishlist. Sports teams post a list of needed kit on their website or their school's site and share it regularly via email and social media. A campaign with a clear start and end date creates urgency and is more likely to hit its target.
22. Online shop
Zeffy helps smaller organisations sell items for free. Add images, prices and descriptions to your online shop and start selling. Zeffy automatically collects buyer data so you can contact supporters again in the future.
You can add your team logo and colours to the landing page, include sizing options and discounts, and let supporters pay by credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or cheque.
23. Fitness challenge
Fitness challenges work like any other peer-to-peer campaign. Sports teams set a challenge and create a donation page showing the team's fundraising goal and campaign details. Players and community members set up their own fundraising pages and collect pledges from friends and family for every milestone they hit or hour they train.
24. Online raffle
An online raffle is a powerful way to connect with new audiences and raise money year-round. In the UK, any raffle where tickets are sold in advance to the public is legally a lottery under the Gambling Act 2005, regulated by the Gambling Commission.
Most charity raffles fall under the small society lottery rules (Gambling Commission). Key facts:
- Register with your local licensing authority (council), not the Gambling Commission directly.
- Registration costs £40 initially and £20 to renew annually.
- A single lottery is capped at £20,000 in ticket sales.
- Annual aggregate across all your lotteries: £250,000.
- At least 20% of proceeds must go to your good cause.
- Maximum single prize: £25,000.
- Submit a return to the local authority within three months of the draw.
If your raffle is drawn entirely at an event, a school fete, a quiz night, a gala dinner, it is an incidental non-commercial lottery and needs no registration. Everything else is a small society lottery.
One important note: Gift Aid does not apply to raffle ticket purchases. The ticket buyer receives a chance to win, which HMRC treats as payment for a benefit, not a gift.
Popular raffle formats for sports teams include:
25. Virtual sponsored walk
Healthy living is a natural fit for sports teams, and a virtual sponsored walk can be a low-cost, high-engagement addition to your calendar. In-person walk-a-thons take significant time and resource to run; a virtual version is far simpler.
Choose a date and time or let participants walk independently over a set period. With peer-to-peer campaigns, walkers collect pledges based on time or distance. Share individual fundraising and walking milestones on social media to keep momentum going.
Online fundraising ideas for clubs
Sports teams are not the only community group that people join. Toastmasters, arts clubs, uniformed groups and faith communities can all raise funds online.
26. Webinars
Webinars let clubs raise funds without a large investment of time or money. Invite an expert in your field to share knowledge online, or develop a session together. Charge a small registration fee. As a bonus, you also collect contact details you can use for future communications.
27. Virtual comedy night or poetry reading
If your club is active in the arts, a virtual comedy night or poetry reading can be an entertaining fundraiser. Sell tickets to the online event. While audiences may not pay much for online entertainment alone, you can bring in corporate sponsors in exchange for marketing to your audience, ask online attendees for donations and sell merchandise with your club's name and logo.
28. Online plant sale
Online plant sales have worked well for many organisations. Using the right online fundraising platform, you can display quality images and detailed descriptions of each plant alongside your club's story and campaign. People are shopping not just for plants but for a good cause.
29. Virtual escape room
Escape rooms are enormously popular right now. Your club can run a virtual version using Zoom's breakout-room feature. When participants join, send them into smaller rooms where they work together to solve puzzles and challenges. Teams can register for a fee and compete for a prize, or set up fundraising pages and collect pledges based on how many challenges they solve or how quickly they escape.
7 steps to set up a virtual fundraiser
Virtual fundraisers can be less costly and stressful than in-person events, but they still need careful planning.
1. Decide on your financial goals
Before any fundraising event or campaign, set clear financial goals. Review past events and campaigns to understand how much you raised and set realistic expectations based on that data.
Online fundraising tools, auctions, raffle tickets, donation pages and peer-to-peer campaigns, can work in combination to raise money and deepen donor relationships. Talk to major donors about where their annual gifts would have the most impact.
2. Choose an online fundraising platform
Choosing the right fundraising platform is one of the most important decisions you will make. For new or smaller charities, it is vital to direct as much of every donation as possible to your programmes, not to platform fees.
Zeffy is the only 100% free online fundraising platform available to UK charities. No sign-up fee, no monthly subscription, no platform fee, no transaction fee, no card processing fee. You will not have to ask donors to cover costs either.
Free does not mean limited. With Zeffy, you can host online auctions, collect donations, sell event and raffle tickets, and manage your shop, all in one place.
UK must-haves when evaluating any platform:
- Gift Aid capture and HMRC Charities Online submission built in
- UK GDPR and PECR compliance for donor data and e-marketing
- A fully transparent fee model with no "suggested tip" prompt added on top of the donor's gift
3. Form a fundraising team
Successful virtual fundraising events need a solid team. Your trustees should be active members of that team. Look for volunteers with experience in online marketing and social media. Once your team is in place, assign members specific roles and goals:
- recruiting and training peer-to-peer fundraising volunteers
- sourcing gifts in kind and approaching corporate sponsors
4. Plan your campaign
How you plan depends on the type of campaign you are running.
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns raise more when you encourage friendly competition. Start by recruiting a handful of committed volunteers to fundraise online. If you have social media influencers or well-connected supporters in your donor base, ask them to take part and promote the campaign.
Train all volunteers on how to run a successful peer-to-peer page and send regular updates to keep them engaged. A fundraising challenge with prizes will help you recruit more volunteers and motivate them to raise more.
Virtual or hybrid event
Planning a virtual event means finding corporate sponsors, marketing and selling tickets, and adding supplementary fundraising options such as auctions and raffles. Your fundraising team should take responsibility for most of these activities.
Social media and email marketing are the most effective promotional channels. Weekly updates on sponsors, auction items and donations received will keep your donor base engaged.
Sell products
Selling products online can be straightforward, but planning still matters. Combine in-person and online sales efforts, ask volunteers to sell to their networks and look for local businesses where you can sell in person too.
Create an online campaign page
An online campaign page that reflects your organisation's brand and makes giving simple will help drive donations.
Branding
Your charity's brand includes your logo, colours and tone of voice. Applying that branding consistently to your donation pages and forms builds trust. Videos and images that tell your story will strengthen supporter connection.
Simple donation forms
Compelling stories and images encourage gifts, but forms must be simple. Customised donation forms with suggested gift amounts tailored to your audience will reduce friction and time for donors. See more donation form best practices.
5. Send emails and social media updates
With your goals, plan and team in place, it is time to promote your event. Engaging content that tells beneficiary stories and shares your charity's work will catch people's attention. Social media is primarily a visual medium, so quality images and short videos are essential.
Send regular updates via email and social media before and during your event. Segment donors by their areas of interest to target your communications effectively. If you have added a peer-to-peer campaign, respond promptly to volunteer and donor questions and promote individual campaign pages on your social media channels.
6. Thank donors and volunteers
After your event, send thank-you messages to volunteers and donors within 48 hours. Personal acknowledgements show donors their contribution is valued. Share how much you raised in total and how those funds will be used.
7. Analyse and plan for next year
Reviewing event data and understanding why and how donors gave will help you plan a better campaign next year. Supporter management tools like Zeffy automatically send donation acknowledgements and record gifts and purchases. Zeffy also lets you add notes and segment donors by giving preferences, so your next campaign starts from a stronger base.
The best online fundraising platforms for UK charities
Online fundraisers depend on the right tools. Here is an honest view of the main UK platforms, written from the perspective of a small-to-mid charity.
Zeffy - 100% free
Zeffy is the only 100% free online fundraising platform available to UK charities. Every penny raised stays with your cause. Zeffy covers donations, ticketing, raffles, memberships, auctions and supporter management in one place, with Gift Aid handling included. Donors give more when they know exactly where their money goes, and a free platform means you can be fully transparent about that.
JustGiving
The household name. JustGiving has the strongest brand recognition with cold donors and remains the go-to for sponsored-event peer-to-peer fundraising outside the London Marathon and Great Run channels. Its platform fee headline is 0%, but a suggested donor tip of around 17% has become the most-criticised feature in UK fundraising. Card processing and a Gift Aid processing fee apply. The tip prompt is a known conversion drag for many charities.
Enthuse
Mandatory if your charity has TCS London Marathon or Great Run places, Enthuse is the exclusive online fundraising partner for both event series until 2034. Branded fundraising pages keep your charity front and centre, not the platform. Outside those flagship events, the subscription model adds up and the 0% platform-fee headline comes with card-processing and Gift Aid fees.
CAF Donate
Built by the Charities Aid Foundation, itself a registered charity. Used by more than 8,000 small-to-medium UK charities. Trust-first positioning, fees generally lower than commercial competitors, and trustees will recognise the name. Reporting is basic compared to commercial platforms.
Wonderful
Aggressive 0%-fee positioning using Open Banking (Pay by Bank). Genuinely free, with no tip jar. The bank-app authentication flow converts well with younger donors but less well with older donors unfamiliar with the process. Narrower donor reach than JustGiving.
Ticket Tailor
A UK-founded B Corp with a flat per-ticket fee rather than a percentage. The clear winner for paid tickets above £10, Eventbrite's percentage model eats the margin on a £10 to £15 fete ticket where Ticket Tailor's flat fee does not. No discovery marketplace, so you need to bring your own audience.
What to look for in an online platform
Here are the key factors to weigh when choosing a fundraising platform for your charity.
UK GDPR and PECR compliance (non-negotiable): Your platform must handle donor data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with proper consent or legitimate-interest basis for any marketing emails. PECR governs direct e-marketing. This is the first thing many UK charities rightly ask about.
Fundraising Regulator alignment: Confirm the platform operates in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice (current version, effective 1 November 2025). The Code's new Section 9 covers online platforms specifically.
Gift Aid automation: For UK charities, this is the single most important platform feature that does not appear on most comparison lists. Your platform should capture the Gift Aid declaration at the point of donation and submit claims to HMRC via Charities Online. Without it, you are leaving 25p per £1 on the table.
Ease of use: The platform should be simple for both you and your donors to use. Look for a clean setup process, a mobile-friendly donor journey and clear navigation. Many UK charity fundraisers are part-time or volunteers, the platform should not require technical expertise to launch a campaign.
Transparent fees: Choose a platform with a clear, upfront fee structure. Platforms that bolt a "suggested tip" or voluntary contribution onto the donor's checkout are a particular concern in the UK, the Fundraising Regulator and commentators such as Which? and Money Saving Expert have highlighted these models as misleading. Look for a platform that does not prompt donors to cover costs on top of their gift.
Payment options: Your platform should accept credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay as a minimum. If you plan to run regular-giving campaigns, look for Direct Debit integration (GoCardless is the standard UK provider). Check that the platform can handle Gift Aid across all payment types.
Customisation: Your fundraising pages should reflect your charity's brand, logo, colours, tone of voice. The ability to create separate pages for different campaigns or events is a strong advantage.
Social media integration: Easy social sharing extends your reach. Peer-to-peer fundraising tools that allow supporters to set up their own pages and share them across their networks are particularly valuable.
Reporting and analytics: A good platform provides real-time data on donations, donor contact information and campaign progress. Exportable data lets you dig deeper and feed your CRM or supporter management system.
Security and compliance: PCI DSS compliance for secure card payments and data encryption should be standard. UK GDPR and PECR compliance are, as noted above, non-negotiable.
Customer support: Even the best platforms have occasional issues. Look for responsive support, a knowledge base and training materials. UK-based support is a genuine advantage for charities operating on UK time.
Scalability: Choose a platform that can handle growing donation volumes and multiple simultaneous campaigns without additional cost as your organisation develops.
Ready to launch your next online fundraiser?
Donors' preference to give online has grown consistently over the past two decades, and the range of tools available has never been greater. After exploring the ideas, Gift Aid guidance and platform options in this guide, you are ready to plan your next virtual fundraiser.
Zeffy makes it straightforward and cost-free for charities and community groups to host virtual fundraisers, keeping every pound raised for your cause.
Frequently asked questions
What is online fundraising?
Online fundraising covers all the ways charities, community groups and individuals raise money via the internet, donation pages, peer-to-peer campaigns, virtual events, online raffles, auctions and more. Good online fundraising platforms also handle Gift Aid automatically, so UK charities can reclaim 25p for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer.
Do I need a licence to run an online raffle in the UK?
Yes, in most cases. Any raffle where tickets are sold in advance to the public is a lottery under the Gambling Act 2005 and must be registered as a small society lottery with your local licensing authority (council). Registration costs £40 initially and £20 to renew annually. If the draw takes place entirely at a single event (a school fete, a quiz night), it is an incidental non-commercial lottery and needs no registration. See the Gambling Commission guidance for full details.
Does Gift Aid apply to raffle ticket sales?
No. Gift Aid applies only to cash gifts from UK taxpayers where the donor receives nothing in return. A raffle ticket purchase gives the buyer a chance to win a prize, which HMRC treats as payment for a benefit. Gift Aid can apply to any voluntary additional donation made separately alongside the ticket purchase.
What is the best free online fundraising platform for UK charities?
Zeffy is the only 100% free platform that combines donations, ticketing, raffles, memberships, auctions and supporter management in one place, with no platform fee, no transaction fee and no card-processing fee, ever. Other free-headline platforms such as JustGiving (suggested donor tip around 17%) and TotalGiving (free donation pages only) either add costs at checkout or cover a narrower range of fundraising tools.
How do I choose the right online fundraising platform?
Look for a platform that is UK GDPR and PECR compliant, handles Gift Aid automatically, aligns with the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice, has a fully transparent fee model with no suggested-tip prompt, and covers all the fundraising tools your charity needs. See the full checklist in the "What to look for in an online platform" section above.
Can individuals raise money online for a charity?
Yes. Individuals can set up peer-to-peer fundraising pages, run sponsored challenges, host virtual events and use e-card or expertise-based campaigns to raise money for a cause. Any cash donation made through a peer-to-peer page can attract Gift Aid if the donor is a UK taxpayer and completes a Gift Aid declaration.
What online fundraising ideas work best for schools?
PTAs and PFAs often find sponsored read-a-thons, virtual trivia nights, online scavenger hunts and wishlist drives particularly effective. These require minimal upfront cost, work well with volunteer organisers, and can be promoted easily via email and school social media channels. Look for a platform that charges no per-ticket fee so that smaller ticket prices (£5 to £10 for a fete) are not swallowed by platform costs.
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