MSE News: Haiti earthquake appeal: how to top-up charity donations

flowerofscotland

treaclebob wrote: »

Just donated at the post office but couldn't see the gift aid box on the form (there was a big queue and I was on my lunch so was in a rush). I got back to work and the info is on the back! Is it too late to send in with a copy of the receipt for the donation? Any help would be appreciated. Just checked and it would add an extra £14 to the donation

No it isn't too late - send a Gift Aid declaration to DEC with your name and address and the amount of your donation and they will add you to the claim they make for the postal donations by cheque that they receive. Address for DEC is on their website. Gift aid wording is on HMRC site - just put Gift aid in their search tool.

flowerofscotland

tiff wrote: »

I donated to the Haiti appeal last night via Unicef. Is there a write/wrong place to donate your money?

It certainly isn't wrong to donate via UNICEF
The DEC which is usually suggested is an umbrella organisation with a membership of around 13 leading aid charities. They have a tried and tested action plan which is quick and effective at raising donations when a disaster strikes and they pass the monies directly to whichever of the member charities have aid networks in the affected areas. DEC has a standing arrangement with media organisations and financial institutions which means donation advertisements and the means for people to donate can be set up really quickly and cheaply. I don't know about the banks but because I used to work in media I know that the DEC ads are published/broadcast free of charge

tiff

Thanks flower, I hadnt heard of DEC so thanks for that info. I just googled Haiti appeal and clicked on Unicef because I know a little about them. Hadnt thought to look here first.

the182guy

I wouldn't mind making a small donation but like others I'm not sure of the best place. yele.org looks good but will banks charge for donating in USD?

Savvy_Sue

the182guy wrote: »

I wouldn't mind making a small donation but like others I'm not sure of the best place. yele.org looks good but will banks charge for donating in USD?

there will almost certainly be a charge somewhere along the line, whether it's at your end or the other end I'm not sure, or possibly even both.

But perhaps the main reason to use a UK registered charity rather than a 'foreign' one is that you can only Gift Aid to a UK registered charity (which yele isn't), and it does make a big difference if you're a UK taxpayer.

So I'd start by looking at the DEC site. If you would like to be sure WHICH charity is getting your money, look at the list of who they are and donate direct to one of them.

If you really really don't fancy any of them, then see what, if anything, charities you do feel warmly towards are doing out there.

Savvy_Sue

thelawnet wrote: »

Various groups are offering to match donations. I would appreciate it if MSE would highlight some of these.

Are you able to start the ball rolling with any names?

alduncan

neneromanova wrote: »

See I don't agree with donating to Charities. I'd like to give the money straight to the person and not let it go throught a charity where they have to pay staff, Tv adverts, Leaflets, magazines, Brochures etc etc.

Funnily enough, charities need staff to get money to the people who need it. And they need the campaigns to make people aware of the need in the first place.

Edinburghlass_2

Buckets are out at the tills in Morrisons for you to donate, even small change will be welcome.

tiff

People who dont already subscribe to MSE's weekly newsletter can do so and MSE will donate 50p per recipient, before Sat 23rd Jan. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/haiti-appeal

I posted a link to the article on my facebook status today and one person has already told me they have signed up. It works!

D_n_B

Thanks tiff for donating to UNICEF's Haiti appeal. I work for Unicef UK. We are not part of the DEC. We are focusing on responding to the needs of children affected by the earthquake. If you want your donation to help children specifically, donating directly to Unicef UK is a way to do it. We are the lead organisation co-ordinating the overall operation in the areas of water and sanitation, education, nutrition and child protection and also working to support healthcare for children. Help IS getting through to people who need it, despite the huge logistical problems we are all facing. We are grateful for everyone's generosity. The high volume of donations received means that fundraising costs can be kept to a minimum as a share of donations received. If you add in the support we have had from companies (free cargo from BA and Thomas Cook, for example), and the money we get back from the Government through Gift Aid, almost all of your donation is spent on help for Haiti's children. If everyone registered for Gift Aid, the Government would be more than covering all our costs. But at the moment we miss out on a lot of money because people don't tick the Gift Aid box. You can donate at unicef.org.uk/haiti. Don't forget to tick for Gift Aid! Thanks.