UK Aid Match frequently asked questions

Q. What is UK Aid Match and how does it work?

UK Aid Match brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. It is designed to allow the British public to have a say in how UK aid is spent and provide opportunities to engage with international development issues, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries. It does this by doubling public donations to appeals run by British international development charities, like Right To Play UK in recognition of both the public’s generosity and the wide range of causes they support.

This means that for a three-month period, (from 1 April to 30 June 2022) public donations to Right To Play UK’s Save Her Seat campaign will be matched by the UK government, up to £2 million.

Q. What will UK Aid Match, match?

• Individuals: Donations should be from individual donors who live in or have their primary residence in the UK. Eligibility for Gift Aid would demonstrate this.
• Communities: UK Aid Match will match donations raised by community groups and events, for example cake sales, concerts, school fetes, including employee fundraising where the donations are made by individual employees not on behalf of a private sector organisation. Payments can be made via the group or organisation providing all funds were given by individuals and there is written confirmation of this.
• Trust funds: UK Aid Match will match donations from trust funds where everyone who owns the fund agrees to the donation being made during the appeal period. UK Aid Match requires proof of this in the form of a statement signed by the financial director or equivalent specifying each donation and confirming that the donations come from individuals who own the funds, that the individuals have agreed to the donation being made to a specified appeal, and that the individuals understand that their donation will be match funded.
• Philanthropic organisations e.g. rotary clubs: The organisation must be not-for-profit. The money must be raised for the specific appeal in question, and all individual donors must be aware both of the appeal purpose and of government match funding when they donate. Donations from foundations where funds are administered on behalf of the owners of the funds are not eligible for match funding.

Q. What amount can be matched?

There is no size limit on donations, but UK Aid Match will not match over the £2 million cap. For donations in excess of £5,000 UK Aid Match will request evidence of eligibility, such as the postcode of the donor. In line with data protection protocol, UK Aid Match will not keep this data on file after it has been validated.

Q. What kind of donations can be match funded?

• New Regular Givers: If you are a new monthly donor, giving by standing order or direct debit, who signs up between 1 April to 30 June 2022, up to the first three months of your regular gift will be matched.
• Existing Regular Givers: If an existing donor decides to increase their regular donation in response to appeal materials, only the additional amount will be eligible for matching. For example, if a regular donor increases their monthly donation from £10 to £30 during the appeal, the UK Government will match the difference (£20 x 3 months = £60).
• Events: Proceeds from compulsory ticket sales are not eligible for matching. Optional donations made on top of a compulsory ticket amount, or proceeds from ‘donation only’ events where people can decide how much they give (including making no donation at all) are eligible for matching. Voluntary donations made during events if guests are informed about the appeal and how match funding will be spent are eligible for matching. This includes proceeds from auctions/raffles held during a fundraiser event.
• Auctions: Proceeds raised from auctions are only eligible for matching if it takes place as part of an existing charity-specific event.
• Raffles: Money raised through raffles is eligible for matching as there is no guarantee of ‘winning’ or receiving an item in return for your donation.
• Legacies: Legacies are eligible for matching if the person making the legacy donation was informed about the matched appeal and expressed a desire to donate in their will. The donation would have to be collected within the appeal’s grace period (two months after the appeal finishes).
• Restricted donations: Donations restricted to specific projects/countries/issues are eligible for matching provided those projects/countries/issues are consistent with the activities which the appeal is raising money for. For example, if the appeal is for improving maternal health in Asia and countries where funds will be spent include Bangladesh, a donation restricted for work to improve maternal health in Bangladesh would be eligible for matching. However, the donor must be made aware that the match funding will not be restricted in the same way but will rather be spent on the UK Aid Match project which has been agreed with UK Aid Match, and be given details of this project.

Q. What Will UK Aid Match not match?

• Financial donations from for-profit organisations.
• The Gift Aid element of donations.
• The proceeds of selling in-kind donations made directly to the organisation (e.g. shares, goods to sell on eBay).
• Donations from existing regular donors as this represents income that is already guaranteed to the organisation rather than given in response to our appeal.
• The value of ‘in kind’ donations (ie. non-monetary) such as: time volunteered, locations donated, bands performing.
• Proceeds from ‘sales’ - whether compulsory ticket sales or sale of items.
• Donations made to a crowdfunding appeal in return for valuable ‘prizes’ or incentives.