01: Charity - Research - Problems and solutions

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Problem 1: One issue with Charitys currently seems to be the lack of information, leading doners to not really understanding where their money is going creates a unconnected relationship with the charity. It leads people to think where is my money really going?

"The report calls on charities to tackle two main areas of under performance identified by donors: the charities' evidence of impact and explanation about how donations are used."

Solution: By creating something which can visually inform donors where there money is going. Attempting to create more personal relationships with the charity and the donor.

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Problem 2: There is an very large amount of charitys out there trying to find the right one seems daunting. There is currently no way to donate to a range of charity without setting up several direct debits often of high amounts.

"Corry said competition in London could confuse donors and it might be hard to choose between charities. There were, for example, 23 charities registered in England and Wales with autism in their name and eight operated in London."

Solutions: A solution to this would be giving donors the onion to easily select a number of charity they want to give to with a set monthly price that is then split equally.

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Problem 3: Currently the donation system feels cold, unlike fundraising through events which is community based. Donating is done individually with no community. You can not see what friends and family are doing unless its posted on facebook or word of mouth. 

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Problem 4: Stereotype! shock tactics! Charitys are using dishonest marketing technquies. we have become desestised to these overly used marketing ploys. Charitys begin to reeinforce the disconnect of us vs them by putting out these bad adverts.

“We know that organisations need to raise funds for their work, but when it comes to such advertising and campaign imagery, they’re often acting detrimentally to their long-term goals,” says Raftree. -

Solution: Could the application be a place where charity's can find pro bono work? Designers etc could help brand or do campaigns for charity's they believe in.

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Problem 5: Smaller charity's are lost within the sea of large Charity. The bigger charitys have resources to cater to the masses by being able to advert on a huge scale. This is because they have the resources to do so.

"The government says it wants more and more giving but it needs to help with more asking. The research shows 83% of donors only give because they are asked, so we want the government to invest more in training more charities to be better at fundraising."- Could this be what the app does?

Solution: A platform for these local charity to get there word out.

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Problem 6: Outdated methods of collection and distribution. How many times have you been uncomfortable stopped on the street just to be made to feel as though you are a terrible person. Its not benefical for both partys. Its a waste of resources.

"Collection tins remained the most often used way to give, followed by direct debits to charities, then sponsorship. But hi-tech techniques are gaining traction, with more than a fifth of people aged 18 to 34 donating by text message in the last year. Medical research, children or young people, and hospitals or hospices, were the three most popular causes."

Solution: This would be to look at how charitys could put this money into something more productive like digital marketing.

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Problem 7: People feel they do not have the money to give as they believe they must give large amount.

Solution: Making people more aware of smaller donations and how they are beneficial. giving just 10p a month can make a huge difference when everyone gives 10p a month.


Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2014/sep/29/poverty-porn-charity-adverts-emotional-fundraising
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/14/charitable-giving-survey-donor-information