Frequently asked questions
Answers to all your questions about the Orienteering Foundation
How much of my donation goes to the Orienteering Foundation?
When you donate to any charity via a website such as Charities Aid Foundation, JustGiving or Virgin Money Giving, not all of your money goes to the charity because the website take some administration fees and commission. The websites vary in how much they take. The Orienteering Foundation uses the Charities Aid Foundation as it strikes a good balance between being a reputable website with a good following, and minimal fees. For example, in the case of a one-off £10 donation with 25% Gift Aid (+£2.50), a total of £12.05 of the £12.50 goes to us. See their article for more details here.
How do higher rate taxpayers reclaim tax on their gifts?
If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you can claim back the difference between the tax you’ve paid on any charitable donations, and what the charity got back, by declaring your charity donations when you fill in your Self Assessment tax return. If you don’t fill in a Self Assessment tax return, call HMRC to tell them about your charity donations. See the HMRC website for more details.
How can I know my gift will make a real impact for the sport?
Our Board is grateful for all gifts to the Foundation and is determined to ensure that they are put to best use. Read about some of the projects we have funded in the past here and about our priorities for the future here.
Which is better, a one-off donation or monthly gifts?
We are very happy to accept whichever you can offer, and both are valuable to us. Regular gifts are great because they provide us with a steady and reliable source of funds to distribute, and over say 5 years a small donation from you each month provides a really valuable contribution. However, we recognise that not everyone can afford a monthly outgoing, and single one-off donations - which may be often larger than the average monthly gift - are equally valuable.
Can I set up a standing order?
Regular donations can either be made using Direct Debit via the Charities Aid Foundation, or you can set up a standing order direct to us. We don't mind which, we are just very grateful for your donation. For larger regular donations it would be preferable to use a standing order as it minimizes the administration fees taken by CAF. If you wish to set up a standing order, please speak to our administrator, details here.
Does the Orienteering Foundation operate throughout the UK?
Yes, we are a registered charity accepting donations and funding projects across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Does the Orienteering Foundation only fund schools / junior projects?
It is true that in the past many of our grants have been to school and junior squads organisations. This is partly due to how the Foundation was originally set up with money from a bequest from Bertie & Elsie Ward focussed on juniors. However, we provide funding for any projects that fulfil our core values, whether they be for juniors or adults, and for individuals or groups. See Projects Funded for a flavour of what we have funded recently.
I’m a bit confused - is the Orienteering Foundation the same as the British Orienteering Federation?
No, the Orienteering Foundation is a separate charity set up to support and promote the sport of Orienteering. While the Orienteering Foundation works closely with British Orienteering it is run independently by a separate Board, chosen for their knowledge of orienteering and their experience of charitable governance. Read more about how we work with British Orienteering here.
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