Gift Aid Information for Challenge Event Fundraisers
If you have paid a registration fee to Teenage Cancer Trust to take part in a challenge, or are raising a minimum sponsorship to gain entry to an event, there are some Gift Aid rules you and your donors should consider detailed below.
We greatly value Gift Aid being added to donations and sponsorships. As Gift Aid is an HMRC incentive there are a few rules you, and your supporters, need to know about it before ticking the Gift Aid box to consent to Teenage Cancer Trust claiming this for you.
We rely on the information you provide to make our Gift Aid claims to the HMRC, so please read this page carefully and pass the information on to your supporters, especially your close family who will probably want to support you.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a government scheme where charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated or sponsored, that is at no extra cost to you or your supporters. This is a great way for you to raise more for Teenage Cancer Trust and show your support for young people with cancer.
What are the Gift Aid donor rules?
In order for you or your sponsors to be eligible for Gift Aid you must:
- Make the donation from own funds – for example if you have collected money from a bake sale and make this as one donation to Teenage Cancer Trust we cannot accept Gift Aid on this. Or if you are being sponsored, the sponsor must use their own money
- Be a UK Tax Payer – and have paid as much Income or Capital Gains Tax in the tax year you want to add Gift Aid to. Check the wording we have used on our sponsorship forms
- Provide a Gift Aid Declaration – usually ticking a box either on a sponsorship form or online giving page is enough to consent to Gift Aid being claimed
To find out more on the general Gift Aid rules please visit our What is Gift Aid page.
What are the rules for event participants and fundraisers?
If the event participant/fundraiser receives a significant benefit as a result of giving money to charity (ie a place in an event), HMRC no longer see this gift as a voluntary donation, so it would not be eligible for Gift Aid. The Benefit Rule is used by HMRC to determine a level above which a donation, including sponsorship, is no longer considered a voluntary gift.
The Benefit Rule will apply to you if you have:
- bought one of our charity event places (as these are sold at a discounted price) OR
- agreed to a mixed or charity funded place in an event whereby Teenage Cancer Trust will pay all or part of your place once you reach a specific fundraising target
You will therefore need to be aware that:
- The reason we offer discounted and funded charity places is to encourage fundraising and provide an alternative way for you to take part in the event while supporting a charity that means a lot to you
- If you have not paid the full price of your entry to the event, Teenage Cancer Trust will deduct this from your fundraising to cover our costs. We therefore are unable to accept Gift Aid from any of your Connected Persons. Please ask them not to tick the Gift Aid box when adding their donations or sponsorship
- However, if you would like to pay for the full price of your ticket and then fundraise what you can (meaning everyone can now add Gift Aid), please get in touch with us using the details below and we’d be happy to help
Remember if you have paid for the full price of your own entry and are choosing to support Teenage Cancer Trust then all of your fundraising will be eligible for Gift Aid as long as your sponsors are eligible under the Gift Aid donor rules above.
When should I/my supporters not add Gift Aid?
- Where you, or the family member you are supporting, is getting something in return for the donation. For example:
- When the full price of entry into an event has not been paid
- Payment is for a raffle, an auction etc.
- Payment is for goods or services (for merchandise, an experience etc.)
- Donations/sponsorships made on behalf of somebody else or a group such as work colleagues, or when using company funds
- Donations made using charity cheques or vouchers (CAFs)
What are ‘Connected Persons’?
Connected Persons is the term used by HMRC to identify anyone close to you who could unfairly support your participation in an activity. These are categorised below:
- Wife, husband or partner
- Relative (siblings), ancestor (parent, grandparent) or descendant (child, grandchild)
- Any wife, husband or partner of the above
- A company owned by yourself or any of the above
If you are unsure whether the Gift Aid rules apply to you, it may be better to ask these groups not to add Gift Aid to their donations/sponsorship to ensure Teenage Cancer Trust is HMRC compliant. But do get in touch with us if you would like to make sure.
How can I find out more or check about Gift Aid for my sponsorship?
A Gift Aid Declaration must contain; the name of the Charity, donor’s full name, donor’s home address (at least the house number/name and postcode).
There’s further information about HMRC’s rules around Gift Aid on their website, particularly Chapter 3 and 3.38.
Or you can get in touch with one of our team who will do their best to help. Just email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Thank you for choosing to support us, we know the HMRC rules are complex and the most important thing to remember is that your fundraising will make a huge difference, whether Gift Aid can be added or not.