Forum Topic

Accountant needed ASAP

As everyone on here knows I do lots to raise money etc for Great Ormand St Children's Hospital and Starlight Children's ward at west Middx Hospital!!Well a lovely lady has emailed me about donating a large sum off money in December if I can get charity status.Last year she donated a whopping £1500.00 and if i can reg status as a charity collector this December a large sum off cash will be given to me to give to the hospitals.I don't know how to do this but been told I need a accountant's help.If you are or Know a Accountant who will volunteer his services to help me with this I would be very grateful.Help me raise a large sum for the sick children in hospital at XmasthanksSimon Anderson

Simon Anderson ● 7172d7 Comments

Simon, check out Gift Aid at http://www.givingcampaign.org.uk/and follow thw links to Gift Aid. It means donors can get the Inland Revenue to give back the tax paid on a donation. So, if your £1500 donor is a basic rate tax payer then the Revenue will pay GOSH / West Mid / whoever an extra £420. (If she pays 40% then she can reclaim more for herself which she can keep / give to the charity.It's not too complicated and certainly won't need an accountant - indeed, most charities know about it and can supply you with the paperwork (which is available from the Website).There's also an Inland Revenue leaflet at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/ir65.htm

Matt Harmer ● 7171d

dear PatriciaThanks for the Info but I already know that as I have there charity bank details and Charity number as I recently raised £1015.00 in February and I am in the middle off collecting more money 4 them by doing a parachute jump on Oct 27th.I have emailed GOSH about all off this and waiting on reply.Thanks 4 all your advice thoughSimon

Simon Anderson ● 7171d

thanks Liz

Simon Anderson ● 7171d

Great Ormond Street has a charity status already. I have just received their Christmas card brochure.

Pat Kingham ● 7171d

My friend Hari (an accountant) says: I checked with the Charity Commission. they said that you need not register as a charity, as you are raising funds and giving the money over to the hospitals.You are not getting yourself involved in the administration of the funds collected, nor do you have any say in how the money is to be used.So I would not bother with forming a charity. If you need clarification why not speak to the Charity Commission. They are pretty helpful.Their telephone number is 0845 300 0218.

Liz Cudmore ● 7171d

Thanks 4 advise..I have been in contact wth GOSH 4 advice

Simon Anderson ● 7172d

The requirements to become a registered charity are incredibly onerous and you would probably need very specialist advice. There is a mountain of forms to fill in and lots of hoops to jump through. It simply wouldn't be worth it for the amount of money in question. Not sure about registering as a charity collector - there have been some recent changes in this area that I'm not familiar with but the rules are bound to be quite tight to prevent abuse which is sadly inevitable.When you say cash do you really mean cash money? If your donor is prepared to write a cheque why not just ask her to make it out to the funding account of the hospital you are so creditably looking to support?

Justin Harris ● 7172d