Gift economy
Unrestricted funding from donations can allow you to carry out activities that are not currently supported by grant programmes or contracts. Donations do not have to be through bucket collections or someone writing a cheque – there are now a huge number of ways people can donate to your organisation, from donating shares to payroll giving or ‘Community Fundraising’ with local events or sponsored activities.
The gift economy is great because:
- It is unrestricted money (usually)
- It provides an opportunity to improve your communications with supporters
- It can galvanise more support for your cause
However, it also has its own set of demands. We have put together short guides to each of the major categories for those who are thinking of developing new income streams from donations.
Find out more the major sources of donations:
- Community fundraising
- Individual support
- Corporate support
- Major donors
- Legacies
- In memoriam and tribute giving
Read our guide introducing types of gifts or donations you may receive.
For more information about Trusts and Foundations see our section on grant income.
For our work in this area see our policy and research pages on giving and philanthropy.
This section explores who gives, how much and whether this is changing. You can also download slides and charts to use in your own presentations and find out more about our policy work on gift aid reform.
