Gift Aid

Have you heard about Gift Aid? It's a really simple way to make your donations or sponsorship worth 25% more - just by ticking a box! And the best thing about it is that it won't cost you a penny extra!

Gift Aid is a scheme administered by HM Revenue and Customs which allows charities like CancerCare to claim 25p from the government for every £1 that you donate.

All you have to do is fill out this quick online form or download a paper form and return it to CancerCare.

Am I eligible for Gift Aid?

The only requirement to be eligible for Gift Aid is that you’re a UK taxpayer, paying tax on your salary, savings, investments, pensions or capital gains.

You can add ‘Gift Aid’ on your donations as long as the total tax you pay is at least equal to the amount we, and other charities you donate to, can reclaim on your donations.

Those who are subject to higher tax rates are still eligible for Gift Aid. In fact, they are eligible for additional benefits, and they claim extra tax relief on gift-aided charity donations, on top of what the charity has already claimed.

If you’re unsure, give us a call or email fundraising@cancercare.org.uk

Are there any hidden charges?

No. It does not cost you anything extra to sign up to Gift Aid. This is because Gift Aid is paid to CancerCare directly from HMRC and is taken from tax you have already paid. It doesn’t affect your tax status either.

How does Gift Aid help CancerCare?

By signing up for Gift Aid, you can help raise more to support our local community.

Over one year* we raised over £29,000 in Gift Aid by amazing CancerCare supporters who ticked the Gift Aid box - enough to fund more than 900 hours of professional and compassionate support for local people facing cancer or bereavement.

*Data from 2023

Can CancerCare claim Gift Aid on sponsorship I’ve raised?

If you're raising money for CancerCare by asking for sponsorship, your sponsorship form has a box for your sponsors to tick to confirm they're eligible.

They won't need to fill in a Gift Aid declaration form, but it's important that your sponsorship form:

• is an official CancerCare sponsorship form printed with the latest Gift Aid declaration wording

• includes your name and address

• includes each sponsor's full name and home address, with the Gift Aid permission column either ticked or signed by the sponsor

• is in the sponsor's own handwriting

• shows the amount donated by each individual sponsor.

If you're raising money using an online fundraising page (for example from JustGiving or MuchLoved) your sponsors will be automatically asked if they want to add Gift Aid to their donation.

Do I have to make a declaration every time I donate?

No. Once you’ve completed a Gift Aid Declaration, you won’t have to do it again for CancerCare. You should however let us know if your tax status changes by calling us on 01524 381820 or emailing fundraising@cancercare.org.uk. 

What can CancerCare not claim Gift Aid on?

We can't claim Gift Aid back on:

• donations made on behalf of someone else

• donations raised by a group of people. Each donor has to sign/tick a Gift Aid declaration for their contribution on a sponsorship or declaration form

• tickets/registration fees

• items people buy from us, for example from our eBay shop or at our centres

• money raised from competitions, like sweepstakes or raffles

• donations given on behalf of companies (although companies can claim tax relief on donations to charities)

• donations given through the Charities Aid Foundation or other charity agencies that are already tax-efficient

• gifts in kind, where the charity receives goods or services instead of a cash donation

How do I make sure CancerCare gets Gift Aid from my donations?

If you’d like to help CancerCare raise more by allowing us to claim Gift Aid on your donations, click here to fill in a quick online form, or download a paper form and return a copy to:

CancerCare, Slynedales, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

Any other questions? Get in touch!

If you have any queries about Gift Aid, please get in touch. It’d be lovely to hear from you and our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you might have.