Gift Aid 'a key part of charity investment'

Market participants planning to make charitable investments have been urged to claim Gift Aid.

The UK Giving 2009 survey has revealed that less than half of those making donations to good causes are making it possible for organisations to claim this tax relief, the BBC reported.

As a result, about £750 million of Gift Aid on charitable donations is lost each year.

The reason for this is a lack of awareness about the tax relief, the news provider suggested.

If double the number of charity investments came with the Gift Aid box ticked, good causes would enjoy significant financial benefits without the party making the donation having to contribute any extra.

This could be particularly important in the current economic climate, as the UK Giving poll found the total amount received by such organisations in the past year has dropped by about 11 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

In related news, the Giving USA Foundation recently urged sector participants to make sure charities are legitimate before making donations.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19479739-ADNFCR