# CAF examines how technology can boost Gift Aid

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/04/06/caf-examines-how-technology-can-boost-gift-aid/
- Published: 2010-04-06T13:36:57+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/giftaid_it_2.gif)

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is exploring how technology can be used to transform
and simply the Gift Aid process to maximise the potential of this tax relief. It
has commissioned a study by the independent, public policy think-tank ResPublica
which will publish its findings during the Summer.

CAF estimates that around £750 million of Gift Aid relief goes unclaimed by charities
each year.

[ResPublica](http://www.respublica.org.uk) will begin by capturing the knowledge
and expertise in Gift Aid from the charity sector and from government. It will be
consulting technology, economic and political experts.

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John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation said: “Since the original
Gift Aid consultation in 2007, charities have been calling for simplification of
the process of claiming this tax relief. We support the recent Government exploration
of more radical structural changes, such as introducing a composite rate, but have
always believed that we also need modernisation of the system through the intelligent
use of technology to provide long-term and sustainable support to the sector”.

He added that CAF chose ResPublica, established last year by Phillip Blond, author
of “[Red Tory: how Left and Right have broken Britain and how we can fix it](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Tory-Right-Broken-Britain/dp/0571251676/219)“,“
because they are known for coming up with radical new ideas for complex social and
economic problems”. He said that he was looking for “a bold blue-print for tangible
and realistic reform, that could be implemented early in the next parliament.”

www.cafonline.org

 * **[An alternative approach to Gift Aid reform](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/07/13/alternative-approach-gift-aid-reform/)**(
   13 July 2010)
 * **[Institute launches new version of its tax-effective giving website](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/07/13/institute-launches-new-version-its-taxeffective-giving-website/)**(
   13 July 2010)
 * **[Gift Aid reform "still slow moving and disjointed" says Institute](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/09/07/gift-aid-reform-quotstill-slow-moving-and-disjointedquot-says-institute/)**(
   7 September 2010)
