# Virtual fundraising tools for the coronavirus period

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/20/virtual-fundraising-tools-for-the-coronavirus-period/
- Published: 2020-04-20T18:05:35+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**As more fundraising switches to digital and virtual fundraising, the variety of
fundraising platforms that support these options becomes more obvious.**

Charities and, more importantly, people who want to support a charity have a fantastic
range of tools that can help support them in whatever way they wish to donate or
to raise funds with or from others.
 

## Fundraising and giving platforms

First, if you simply wish to donate, there are plenty of digital platforms to choose
from:

## Advertisement

 * [JustGiving](http://www.justgiving.com)
 * [Virgin Money Giving](http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com)
 * [LocalGiving](http://www.localgiving.org)
 * [Charity Checkout](http://www.charitycheckout.co.uk)
 * [CAF Donate](https://www.cafonline.org/charities/caf-donate)
 * [The Big Give](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/16/600k-raised-for-net-coronavirus-appeal-through-the-big-give)
 * [The Good Exchange](https://thegoodexchange.com/)

and more.

[Virgin Money Giving has waived all its fees](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/20/virgin-money-waives-platform-fee-for-remainder-of-lockdown)
for the duration of the lockdown.
Some specialise in **mobile giving** such as text
donations:

 * [Givey](http://www.givey.com)
 * [Donr](http://donr.com)
 * [Thyngs](http://thyngs.net)
 * [RSM2000](http://www.rsm2000.co.uk)

[Thyngs has just partnered](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/20/thyngs-partners-with-fidel-to-speed-up-gift-aid-donations/)
with card-linking API provider Fidel to help maximise Gift Aid donations, and [RSM2000 has recently partnered with Mobicash](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/17/mobicash-rsm-2000-partner-to-help-charities-with-mobile-donations/)
to expand its offering.

There are also plenty of crowdfunding sites where individuals, groups and charities
can run campaigns that you can donate to e.g.

 * [GlobalGiving](https://www.globalgiving.org/)
 * [GoFundMe](http://www.gofundme.com)
 * [Crowdfunder](http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk)

Some of the above platforms enable you to fundraise or give in multiple ways e.g.
setting up your own fundraising event on behalf of a charity, or donating and crowdfunding.

There is also **Facebook**, which offers individuals, companies and charities a 
[range of fundraising and giving tools](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/11/22/new-facebook-fundraising-tools-unveiled-in-run-up-to-christmas/).
You’ve probably already been invited by Facebook to set up a Facebook birthday fundraiser
campaign: that is just one of their fundraising tools.
 

## Stuck at home? What you can do

The list below attempts to give individuals and charities a sense of the **many 
ways in which it is possible to fundraise for or give to** your favourite charity
even while you having to remain at home under lockdown during the coronavirus period.

There is almost no limit to the approaches and creativity that individuals are taking
to keep supporting charities. And there are platforms that can help – or inspire
you to do something, whatever you idea!
 

## 1. Affiliate shopping

Online shopping is even more attractive to many of us. Fortunately we can generate
donations for charities when shopping online at no cost to us, via a number of online
platforms.

### Easyfundraising

### The Giving Machine

### WeArePercent

> Raise for free, everyday, for a cause you're passionate about. We are now live
> in 10 UK cities! 🚀
> 👉 Simply link your card and transform it into a fundraising
> machine when spending at [@FrancoMancaPizz](https://twitter.com/FrancoMancaPizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [@Deliveroo](https://twitter.com/Deliveroo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@wagamama](https://twitter.com/wagamama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw),
> [@WeAreZizzi](https://twitter.com/WeAreZizzi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@ItsuOfficial](https://twitter.com/ItsuOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and many more! [pic.twitter.com/83hIGBv0X4](https://t.co/83hIGBv0X4)
> — @wearepercent (@WeArePercent) [October 8, 2019](https://twitter.com/WeArePercent/status/1181559144165335042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Savoo

## 2. Rounding up and micro-donations

### Roundups

[Roundups](https://www.roundups.org/) works with your bank to round-up automatically
all of your card payments (to 10p, 50p or £1 – you choose), donate the difference
to a good cause of your choice “and report back on the amazing impact of your penny
donations.”

https://twitter.com/roundupsorg/status/1250095855559999491
 

### Pennies

Micro-donation service [Pennies](http://www.pennies.org.uk) works with brands such
as Screwfix, Domino’s and Rontec, letting customers top-up their payment as a gift
to the company’s charity partner. It has raised £23 million so far for over 600 
charities.

For the first time it has launched a [direct appeal](https://www.facebook.com/donate/1199977373542515/)
to the public, to enable consumers to give ‘micro-donations’ in support of two national
charities directly combating the impacts of Covid-19 in the UK: The National Emergencies
Trust and NHS Charities Together.
 

## 3. Double your donations

Some platforms offer to double the value of donations made, either through the platform
company itself or an individual, trust or corporate donor. Check to see if the matched
giving option is permanent or for select campaigns.
 

### The Big Give

Aiming to raise £1.35 million with its [Covid-19 Emergency Appeal](https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/covid-19),
The Big Give is urging the public to donate through its website to see their gifts
doubled, pound for pound, until the £611,000 match funding pot is emptied. Match
funding has been donated by a range of generous partners, including the Julia and
Hans Rausing Trust, the Reed family, Reed Foundation and Cazenove Capital (Schroders).

![Join the Big Give's Covid-19 Emergency Appeal - promotional image](https://wfay6x.
infiniteuploads.cloud/2022/07/big-give-coronoavirus-double-your-donation.webp)

### ⏎ 4. Donating unwanted goods

### VintageGiving.com

[VintageGiving.com](https://www.charityretail.org.uk/generating-income-when-youve-shut-up-shop-what-now-thinking-inside-the-box/)
turns unwanted old and vintage items quickly and easily into funds for charities.
They say that, typically, a donated box is worth around £80. Currently the company
is “boosting the value of all boxes sent to us from charities and their supporters
by 10%.”
 

## 5. Giving accounts

If you give regularly to multiple charities or wish to do so by setting up a family
giving account, there are various platforms that support this kind and other kinds
of approach:

 * [Stewardship](https://www.stewardship.org.uk/giving/give)
 * [Charities Aid Foundation](https://www.cafonline.org/charities/caf-donate)

## ⏎ 6. Fundraising from playlists

### GivePenny

GivePenny is running a [free webinar](https://home.givepenny.com/playlistfundraisingwebinar1/)
on how this works on 17 April.
  

## 7. Virtual events

### Trac4Good

> Coronavirus affecting your mass participation charity fundraising event? Why not
> fundraise virtually via the Trac4GOOD app! [#massparticipation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/massparticipation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#fundraise](https://twitter.com/hashtag/fundraise?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#charity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/charity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#stayactive](https://twitter.com/hashtag/stayactive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> — trac4GOOD (@Trac4GOOD) [March 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/Trac4GOOD/status/1240177967164252165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Funraisin

⌊Sample virtual event from funraisin⌉⌊Sample virtual event from funraisin⌉
[Funraisin](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/06/05/australian-events-fundraising-platform-opens-doors-uk/)
offers a range of peer-to-peer and DIY fundraising event services. It has also, 
[with massive, set up a range of resources](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/30/funraisin-massive-create-us-us-collective-to-offer-free-charity-support-during-coronavirus/)
to help charities fundraise during the coronavirus period.  

### CharityCheckout

[CharityCheckout](http://www.charitycheckout.co.uk), the fundraising, donations 
and events registration platform, has integrated with **Strava** for its virtual
events and fundraising product. This will enable charity supporters to record and
easily share their indoor or outdoor fitness activity as well as giving them the
ability to update videos and pictures from their runs, cycles or at home workouts.
The integration of Strava is part of a wider update of its Fundraising and Event
registration product to enable charities to better navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

### Crowdfunder

⌊Crowdfunder projects⌉⌊Crowdfunder projects⌉
[Crowdfunder](http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk)
has expanded from its standard crowdfunding campaigns to enable charities to run
virtual video events in lieu of their physical version to replace lost income. These
range from comedy nights, to music events, pub quizzes and sports engagement.

Crowdfunder is “100% free for charity fundraising projects during the crisis”.
 

## 8. Payroll giving

### Charitable Giving

> Let us know what you're doing today to keep yourself busy during lock down. We're
> busy processing donations from generous employers and their employees to thousands
> of UK charities! 😍 [#charity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/charity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#COVID19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> — Charitable Giving (@CharitbleGiving) [April 16, 2020](https://twitter.com/CharitbleGiving/status/1250784136656236544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

### Geared for Giving

> If players signed up to take a 30% paycut due to [#covid19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/covid19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> then almost £1billion could be raised for the [@NHSuk](https://twitter.com/NHSuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and good causes. Demand [@premierleague](https://twitter.com/premierleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> look into this! [#GivingBack](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GivingBack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#Football](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Football?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#DoingGood](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DoingGood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#Charity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Charity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/kNlJ4uXVWA](https://t.co/kNlJ4uXVWA)
> — Geared for Giving Campaign (@GearedforGiving) [April 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/GearedforGiving/status/1247807398992990209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Geared for Giving helps anyone – not just Premier League players! – donate to charity
via payroll giving.
 

## 9. Corporate support

### Work for Good

Work for Good lets companies link giving to charity through their sales. It has 
recently removed membership fees for companies.

https://twitter.com/RAINYDAYTRUST/status/1242141653856595968
 

### In Kind Direct

In Kind Direct is a charity that distributes donated stock from over 1,200 companies
to 10,000 charities in need. Companies can donate products at any time.

It is currently benefiting from a hashtag campaign by Andrex which is offering to
donate up to £100,000 to the charity.
 https://twitter.com/InKindDirect/status/1249974487090704385
If your company wants to give in other non-financial ways you can offer your services
via the government’s business support service:

https://twitter.com/martinlugton/status/1243497942620741632
  

## 10. Streaming

Streaming is one of the biggest opportunities for fundraising in these times. And
it’s not because of the scale and popularity of online gaming. That’s important 
of course, but the real significance of streaming is that **it is about people’s
passions and skills**, and sharing that with their ‘tribe’ of people who share that
passion. People will pay to watch, play alongside, learn from and engage with people
who are amongst the best in their area – whatever that is.
 

### Tiltify

US company [Tiltify expanded its services to the UK](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/04/11/peer-to-peer-fundraising-platform-tiltify-launches-to-uk-charities/)
last year. It is the official fundraising partner of streaming site Twitch.

Comedian Richard Herring chose to use it this year for his annual ‘When’s International
Men’s Day’ fundraising campaign for Refuge.

https://twitter.com/Herring1967/status/1236583587660681217
 

### GivePenny

[GivePenny lets individuals fundraise by doing that they love](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/08/23/givepenny-adds-virtual-events-appeals-online-giving-platform/),
by integrating with a whole range of activity, sporting, leisure and entertainment
apps like Strava and Spotify.
 

### JustGiving

JustGiving offers a [streaming and gaming option](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/02/25/justgiving-launches-new-gaming-for-social-good-hub/)
too.
 

## 11. Online lotteries and raffles

Plenty of charities including hospices run online lotteries, and this is another
option under lockdown for those who want to donate to charity with the possibility
of a cash win.
 

### GivingLottery

⌊The Giving Lottery logo⌉⌊The Giving Lottery logo⌉
[The GivingLottery](https://www.thegivingmachine.co.uk/GivingLottery/),
from The Giving Machine, is way for schools, charities and community groups to raise
funds. Players have the chance to win £25,000 while supporting causes that matter
to them from just £1 a week. 

## 12. Online auctions

Individuals and charities can still turn valuable items into donations via online
auctions.
 

### eBay for Charity

[eBay for Charity](https://charity.ebay.co.uk/) supports over 30,000 UK charities.

When listing an item for sale, individuals can consider donating a percentage of
the sale to a cause of their choice – from 10% to 100%.

The site currently has nominated NHS Charities Together as its latest Give at Checkout
partner.
 

### Elmwoods Auctioneers

![Ring in Elmwoods Auctioneer's online charity auction](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2020/04/elmwoods-charity-auction-jewellery-202004023-300x300.jpg)

_An Art Deco diamond and ruby dress ring in the sale, with an estimated value of
£300-500._

[Elmwoods](http://www.elmwoods.co.uk) in West London is one auctioneer that runs
online auctions. On 23 April it is holding an online jewellery auction to raise 
funds for the National Emergencies Trust. 

## 12. Group gifting

Some platforms let you manage contributions to a single fund, for a birthday, a 
wedding or a celebratory event. These can also be used jointly to contribute to 
a charitable donation on behalf of someone, to celebrate that event.

### Fundzzle

## 13. Online quizzes

Plenty of charities are benefiting from online quizzes, some that they have set 
up, and some that their supporters have. Some are using existing channels such as
Facebook Live, Zoom and YouTube. Others are using dedicated online quiz platforms.

**Virtual Quiz Events**

[Virtual Quiz Events](http://www.virtualquizevents.com) was set up in January this
year. Not surprisingly, since lockdown they have grown by 900%!
The charity/cause
schedules a quiz and determines the entry fee. They then promote it amongst their
supporters who pay to enter the quiz. 60% of entry fees goes directly to the charity,
with 20% being shared amongst 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed players. Virtual Quiz Events
retains 20% to cover admin/development/staffing costs. All questions are pre-set
and anyone can take part from anywhere in the UK. The not-for-profit platform is
now generating around £5,000 per week for UK-based charities and good causes. 

## 14. Other platforms

There are of course many other platforms that aren’t designed for fundraising but
which have turned out to enable them in various ways, not least video app **Zoom**.

https://twitter.com/l007eag/status/1250155307663269888?s=12 People and charities
using Zoom don’t have a built-in fundraising option of course, so usually set up
a fundraising campaign on one of the standard giving platforms.

But there are tools available to help build in fundraising to the Zoom, Skype or
Rooms experience.
 

### Lockdown Loveup

[Lockdown Loveup](http://www.lockdown-loveup.com) is “all about encouraging people
to stop loneliness either you are young and vital or old and lonely”.

The idea is to ask someone for a date: it could be your crush, old friend, husband
or flatmate. You can keep your name secret and will be revealed after the lockdown.

Your invitation is emailed on our behalf. Once you design the perfect fun date through
the website, you are asked to make a donation to the Re-engage charity that provides
social activities and contact to elderly in the UK.
 

### The Giving Room

[The Giving Room](https://thegivingroom.org/) has been developed in partnership 
with PurplePot, the contactless giving service for companies, workplaces and business
events. It is encouraging thousands of business people setting up online video conferences
on platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams to insert 
a simple donation weblink or QR code into their next few meetings. 
  _Did we miss
your online giving or fundraising platform from our list? Or miss out a whole type
of virtual fundraising? [Let us know](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/20/virtual-fundraising-tools-for-the-coronavirus-period/hl***@************co.uk).
We’re only listing platforms that serve a UK audience, and we aren’t aiming to be
comprehensive._

_If your fundraising platform could benefit from additional promotion on UK Fundraising
please [contact Nikita Saha for details](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/20/virtual-fundraising-tools-for-the-coronavirus-period/ni*********@***********se.com)._

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