Simple Fundraising makes supporting good causes a breeze
Howard Lake | 29 October 2007 | News
Members simply need to do their shopping online…
Simple Fundraising (http://www.simplefundraising.co.uk ), a scheme that raises money for good causes – simply by individuals and community groups doing their shopping online with major retailers – is launching nationwide.
After a successful pilot, the Simple Fundraising service is being widened so that UK schools, charities, churches, youth groups, social groups – and more – can raise money effortlessly while using a shopping directory of more than 200 retailers, including household names such as Tesco, HMV, Boots, Dell and Carphone Warehouse.
Each time a registered supporter of a good cause uses the Simple Fundraising website to place an order online, their chosen beneficiary – perhaps a school, church, charity or community group – earns commission ranging from 1% up to £50 depending upon each retailer.
Thanks to the scheme, even small groups can quickly raise hundreds of pounds to fund their not-for-profit activities.
For example, if a school registered and set up its own Simple Fundraising website – and just 10 staff members and parents registered as supporters and every week ordered home delivery groceries from Tesco, who pay £2.50 for each home delivery – the school would raise £25 weekly and £1,300 a year. This gives sufficient funds to place new books in the library, buy sports equipment or decorate an art room. And that is based on just a small group of people ordering with Tesco: there are over 200 retailers involved.
Tracey Golding of Simple Fundraising says: “Our list of retailers is growing daily and, with larger schools and groups that attract many supporters, the amount of funds they can raise is essentially unlimited. As our service is entirely free of charge, we’re providing a risk free fundraising tool.”
She adds: “it’s likely that supporters of a good cause already buy goods online, so they don’t need to change their buying habits to help out. They simply need to use the fundraising website as a launch pad to their chosen online shops. With Christmas fast approaching, now is the ideal time for groups to get started.”
It takes just five minutes to register with Simple Fundraising and be ready to roll with a personalised website. No programming knowledge is needed as all the hard work has been done. As Tracey points out, “there’s no need to knock on doors or handle cash”. Everyone wins: the good cause earns commission and supporters save money by shopping online, which is cheaper than using the high street. And it takes just one click to launch their favourite shopping sites, so the process is quick and easy too.
Fundraising groups can check the amount of commission they’ve earned online, at any time. They can also send inspiring online newsletters to their members through the Simple Fundraising site. Furthermore, 10% bonuses are available for referring other groups to the scheme (for example, if a school referred a scout group, the school would earn 10% on each commission earned by the scouts). In addition, Simple Fundraising provides a free emergency SMS alert service for registered fundraisers. So, if the school roof was leaking, the school could alert registered parents immediately. And they could potentially raise money to repair it!
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Notes for editors
Simple Fundraising exists to help UK individuals and community groups raise funds for good causes, quickly and easily. It is a home-based operation set up by Tracey Golding during the 2007 summer holiday after her daughter came home from school asking for ideas to raise money to buy new footballs.
For further information, please contact:
Tracey Golding
Simple Fundraising
Tel: 0845 021 3700
Email: tr****@si***************.uk
Site: www.simplefundraising.co.uk
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.