# Low level of response to Gift Aid consultation

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/03/12/low-level-response-gift-aid-consultation/
- Published: 2008-03-12T17:41:25+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Reading through the [Government’s response to its Gift Aid Consultation](http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/F/bud08_giftaid_335_.pdf),
published today together with the Budget, I’m struck by the incredibly low response
to this consultation.

"The Government received 98 written and 257 online responses. In addition, approximately
300 sector representatives attended consultation events." In a sector of 190,000
registered charities, don’t you find this as alarming and depressing as I do?

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Let’s accept that the majority of those charities don’t/can’t/won’t collect Gift
Aid so probably wouldn’t respond. Let’s just focus on the top 1,000+ charities who
employ paid fundraisers and finance staff. Couldn’t they show a bit more interest?

How about donors? Don’t some of them have an interest in improving Gift Aid? Let’s
narrow it down to major donors and/or those who have an understanding of tax-effective
giving. Only 5% of the above respondents were individuals. Let’s throw in these 
major donors’ financial advisers.

What about fundraising and direct marketing agencies keen to achieve an even higher
return on investment on campaigns they undertake for clients?

In other words, there is a huge constituency of people and organisations who should
be interested in improving Gift Aid.

Here is the breakdown of the above respondents to the Consultation.

Respondent Proportion (approx) Breakdown of respondents

19% : Large/National Charities

17% : Churches/Church Bodies

15% : National Umbrella Bodies

15% : Sector Representative Bodies

14% : Small/Local Charities

5% : Individuals

5% : Private Companies

4% : Visitor Attractions

2% : Universities

1% : Community Amateur Sports Clubs

1% : Devolved Administrations

I truly hope that the consultation secured good quality feedback given the low quantity
of responses.

Of course, the sector bodies will argue that between them they represent thousands
of organisations – the Institute of Fundraising with its 4,000+ plus individual 
members, the Charity Finance Directors’ Group with its 1,450 members, and the 400
members of the Charity Tax Group. But from the above figures I wonder just how many
of these individual/organisational members fed back their concerns via their sector
body.

Feel free to point out if my impressions are wrong. If you can be bothered to comment
of course…

 * **[HMRC publishes FAQ on Gift Aid transitional relief](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/04/10/hmrc-publishes-faq-gift-aid-transitional-relief/)**(
   10 April 2008)
 * **[Whitechapel Art Gallery VAT ruling encouraging for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/07/11/whitechapel-art-gallery-vat-ruling-encouraging-charities/)**(
   11 July 2008)
 * **[Tax rebate for millions is a fundraising opportunity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/09/01/tax-rebate-millions-fundraising-opportunity/)**(
   1 September 2008)