Swiftaid

Swiftaid: Gift Aid automation for UK charities

Swiftaid is a technology platform that simplifies Gift Aid management and claims, the UK tax mechanism that allows charities to reclaim the basic tax already paid on donations, increasing each contribution by 25% at no extra cost to the donor. The company presents itself as a solution to reduce the £564 million that, according to its description, goes unclaimed each year.

The service is structured around three areas: charities, individual donors and donation platforms or payment providers. For charities, Swiftaid offers management tools, recovery of unclaimed Gift Aid, API integration into the charity's website and a claim submission service. For donors, it provides a free account from which to automate Gift Aid declarations and receive an annual statement. For platforms, it offers integration solutions that allow automated Gift Aid to be incorporated into their donation processes.

Tools for charities

Swiftaid makes available to charities several solutions aimed at maximising Gift Aid recovery and reducing administrative burden:

• Gift Aid Finder: allows charities to send Swiftaid the eligible donations from the current tax year to locate Gift Aid that was not claimed at the time. The company presents it under the name "Great Gift Aid Hunt".
• Website integration: through a simple API integration, the charity can collect Gift Aid on donations made through its own website, leaving administrative management in Swiftaid's hands.
• Claim submission service: Swiftaid handles the entire Gift Aid claim process. The charity submits declarations and donations and the platform manages the submission.
• Gift Aid through platforms: thanks to agreements with various platforms and services, charities can benefit from automated Gift Aid on donations channelled through those partners.

The company also offers an enquiry form so charities can assess whether Swiftaid can meet their specific needs.

How it works for donors

Donors only need to sign up once and reauthorise their consent once a year to automate Gift Aid declarations on all donations made through supported platforms and charities. If a donor joins the network through another charity or platform, Gift Aid is automatically added to donations made to any participating organisation. Each tax year, donors are asked to update their details and reauthorise Swiftaid to create declarations on their behalf, either from a supported platform or from their own account.

Creating a donor account is free and includes Gift Aid automation and an end-of-year statement at no cost. There is an optional paid plan of £19.99 per year that unlocks additional features in the donor dashboard, such as viewing all donations and their progress, full statement history, PDF Gift Aid summaries and personalised recommendations.

Integration for platforms and payment providers

Swiftaid offers integration solutions for online donation platforms and contactless terminal providers. Platforms can automate Gift Aid and streamline donations for their users, while terminal providers can enable Gift Aid on their devices. The company provides developers with comprehensive technical documentation, API references and a system status dashboard with real-time and historical data. It also maintains a list of active platforms that already use Swiftaid.

Service fees

Swiftaid's pricing model varies by service. The claim submission service has a fee of 5% + VAT on Gift Aid processed, applicable only when a claim is submitted. Gift Aid Finder charges 10% + VAT on Gift Aid recovered, with a success fee that applies only to the amount actually recovered. Gift Aid through platforms starts with a free plan, with options available for charities of all sizes.

Success stories and user charities

The platform is trusted by millions of donors and hundreds of charities. Among the featured case studies that the company publishes are the Royal British Legion, with a collaboration to benefit the UK's armed forces; Dogs Trust, which used Gift Aid Finder; Eden Project, which according to the published case study uncovered thousands of pounds in unclaimed Gift Aid; Shelter, which found hidden Gift Aid with Swiftaid's help; and Countryside Alliance, which unlocked £60,000 in unclaimed Gift Aid. There are also testimonials from managers at Barnardo's and Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, who highlight the ease of use and the ability to identify unclaimed Gift Aid with limited use of charity resources.

Funding and origin

Swiftaid was established with initial funding from an Innovate UK grant and equity investment. The company offers information about its founders, its blog and an FAQ section, as well as resources on data protection and security.