Charities set to benefit as Barclays launches Gift Aid on Barclays Pingit

Barclays’ smartphone app, Barclays Pingit, has launched a new ‘donate with Gift Aid’function allowing consumers to maximise donations to their favourite charities using their mobile phones. With estimates suggesting that Gift Aid is worth nearly £1bn a year to charities and their donors, this instant mobile payment platform will ensure charities are able to fully benefit from each and every donation made to them using Barclays Pingit.  

Macmillan Cancer Support, the Dogs Trust and Charities Trust are among the first charities to benefit from this new functionality. In 2012 Macmillan used the Barclays Pingit app as part of their World’s Biggest Coffee Morning fundraiser which helped to raise vital funds for the charity.

Becky Ellison, Account Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support said: “We are very excited about Barclays Pingit’s new gift aid function and the way Barclays is using new technology to allow people to donate to Macmillan and help us ensure no one faces cancer alone. We used the app as part of our World’s Biggest Coffee Morning fundraiser last year and we’re looking forward to using it again this year and making it even easier for people to donate.”

David McHattie, Head of Charities, Corporate Banking, Barclays, commented: “Charities are operating in a challenging environment.  As they explore new and innovative ways in which to engage and broaden their donor base, and in particular appeal to the next generation donor, Barclays Pingit could prove to be a key element in their evolving armoury.”

Estimates suggest that over half of UK consumers now own a smartphone, there is thus significant opportunity for charities to take advantage of this developing platform and reach both existing and potential donors, not only online, but importantly with on the street donations too.

Launched in February last year, Barclays Pingit was the UK’s first service to facilitate the instant payment and receipt of money using mobile phone numbers to anyone with a UK current account and UK mobile phone number, without the need to share bank details. The app is available to charities which can receive donations from their customers via a Quick Response (QR) code which can be displayed on their website, leaflets, posters or billboards. Alternatively, charities can be found within the in-app Business Directory. Payments are immediate and irrevocable and go directly into the charity’s corporate current account held with Barclays.

The new Gift Aid function takes this one step further. When consumers scan a charity’s QR code, or select the charity from the Business Directory,they will now be given the option to select Gift Aid.  This will allow the charity to claim back basic rate tax relief on that donation. The new functionality will also enable charities to better measure the success of initiatives as they will be able track donations linked to associated campaigns.

Mike Walters, Barclays’ Head of UK Corporate Payments, added: “Gift Aid functionality within Barclays Pingit is innovation at its most exciting and helps our charity clients to deliver a truly great donor experience, while maximising the value of spontaneous donations.”

The Barclays Pingit app can be downloaded for free and is available on iPhone, Android and Blackberry. Transfers are instant and as safe as any other banking transaction and the app is protected by a five-digit passcode, set by the user. Both Barclays and non-Barclays current account customers can use the app.