Cashback giving: how supporters can donate to charity at no extra cost
Supporters buy digital gift cards for brands they already shop with. The retailer's discount on each card goes to a charity as a donation instead of back to the shopper. The supporter still gets the full value of their gift card, the charity gets a donation, and everyday spending becomes giving.
With budgets stretched, many supporters want to help but feel they have less to spare. Meanwhile, the people charities serve need help faster than ever. Cashback giving turns spending supporters already do into regular donations.
How does cashback giving with Tillo work?
Charities run cashback giving through Tillo StoreFront, a white-labelled online gift card shop branded as the charity's own.
- A supporter clicks through to the charity's StoreFront.
- They buy a digital gift card from a brand they already use, such as their supermarket, coffee chain or favourite retailer. The card is delivered instantly via URL.
- They pay the full value of the gift card, and a percentage of the purchase goes directly to the charity as a donation.
Supporters don't have to change their habits or sign up to a direct debit. They shop as normal, and their chosen cause benefits.
How much of each purchase goes to the charity?
Charities typically receive a pre-set % of each gift card purchase. The exact percentage depends on the brand.
How much could cashback giving raise?
The weekly shop adds up. For example:
- A single supporter spending £124 a month on groceries could generate up to £16.12 a month in donations.
- A family of four spending £668 a month could contribute £26.72 to £86.84 a month.
That's regular, ongoing support built into something people already do.
What are the benefits of cashback giving for charities?
- No technical work is needed. With Tillo, a fully branded shop can be up and running in six weeks, with minimal development effort from your team.
- Supporters see their impact. They're notified each time they donate and shown how much they've given. You get insight into supporter behaviour to shape your outreach.
- Supporters stay engaged. Using StoreFront for everyday purchases like groceries keeps your charity front of mind.
- Gifting does good too. Supporters can buy gift cards for friends and family, and a percentage of each purchase goes to your charity.
Who is cashback giving for?
Because it costs supporters nothing extra, cashback giving reaches people that traditional fundraising often doesn't.
- Younger supporters. Many care deeply about causes but don't have spare income or aren't ready for a monthly commitment. Turning a coffee or a grocery shop into a donation is an easy first step.
- People on tight budgets. When money is tight, giving is often the first thing to go. With cashback giving, nobody has to choose between their budget and a cause they care about.
- Faith communities. For many people, giving is part of their faith, whether that's Sadaqah, tithing or seva. Cashback giving is a simple way to give a little more each time they shop.
- Existing donors. It keeps supporters connected to a cause between major appeals, without asking them for more.
Cashback giving in action: easyfundraising
easyfundraising, a UK online fundraising platform, partners with Tillo to let supporters turn gift card purchases into donations for causes across the UK.
Through our partnership, we're connecting our supporters with gift cards from over 300 brands, creating another simple way to raise for good causes. Supporters can purchase a gift card through easyfundraising to use themselves or give to someone else, and their chosen cause receives an instant donation at no extra cost.
How else does Tillo support charities?
Cashback giving is one of several ways charities use Tillo. Tillo also helps organisations get financial support to individuals and families facing severe hardship. Funds reach recipients instantly through Tillo's API or white-labelled StoreFront.
Case study: Charis Grants
Charis Grants distributes financial support, energy efficient appliances, furniture and other support services to households and community projects on behalf of private sector, public sector, and not-for-profit organisations. They use Tillo to make sure every disbursement meets a real need. For example, someone setting up a home might receive a gift card for a homeware retailer.
- Challenge: Charis Grants wanted to provide targeted financial support without taking away recipients' ability to choose what they needed most.
- Solution: Connecting to Tillo gave Charis Grants access to a wide range of brands. They could then choose which retailers to offer, so support always went towards essentials.
- Result: Recipients now receive digital gift cards from a broader, more flexible mix of retailers and services. The cards are delivered quickly and spent on what matters to them.
Free School Meals
During COVID-19, Tillo powered 95% of the Free School Meals programme, making sure vital support reached families in need. Today, our technology still helps organisations get financial support to people facing severe hardship instantly, through our API or whitelabel B2C StoreFront.
Find out how cashback giving could work for your charity
Want to explore how Tillo could support your charity? Get in touch with our team.
