Before you create a crowdfunding page, you should check the features of the crowdfunding platform. You should make sure that you will have the tools and information you need to follow the law on donations.
You should collect sufficient information from every donor to ensure that you can:
Properly check that each donation over £50 is from a permissible source
Identify whether multiple donations have come from the same source
Accurately record the donations you have received in your spending and donations return
You should choose a crowdfunding platform that allows you to return donations which are not permissible.
Private crowdfunding donations and anonymous donations
In this guidance, we will refer to both private crowdfunding donations and anonymous donations. These terms are defined in the table below:
Term
Meaning
Private crowdfunding donation
The donor’s details are not visible on a public crowdfunding page, but some information is provided to the person who created the page.
For example, someone viewing a crowdfunding page would not be able to tell who made a private donation of £75, but the fundraiser may receive the donor’s name and email address.
Anonymous donation
No donor information is provided to the person or organisation that has received the donation.
You should check that, as the fundraiser, you will be given access to the information you need on your donors.
You must not accept donations made anonymously, or if you are unable to identify who the donor is.
You may accept private crowdfunding donations, provided you have the details required to check their permissibility.
However, you may wish to consider whether you want to allow private crowdfunding donations for your campaign.
Accessing the funds raised
There are different ways that crowdfunding platforms can pass funds to fundraisers. Some platforms may let you withdraw funds while your campaign is still running, while others will only transfer funds to you once your campaign has ended.
The length of time it takes to receive funds after the deadline may also vary depending on which crowdfunding platform you are using.
It is important for you to understand when you can access funds. Once funds are received, you must carry out permissibility checks on relevant donations and keep records for your spending and donations return. We recommend planning your crowdfunding campaign so that you will receive your donations with enough time to complete the required checks ahead of the deadline for submitting your return.