Freedom251 › Nonprofit Online Donation Software
CAF Donate
What CAF Donate is
CAF Donate is a web platform for charities to collect and process donations. Charities can create branded campaign pages, run several campaigns at once, and embed a donation widget on their own website. Pages adapt to donors’ device sizes. Donations can come by Direct Debit, card, PayPal, or CAF account, and charities can also collect them by phone or post. Recurring gifts and automated receipts are supported. If appointed as a Gift Aid agent, CAF checks donation eligibility, submits claims to HMRC, reconciles returned funds, and pays Gift Aid into the charity’s bank account. Charities can download donor and donation information, create tailored reports, and upload details to their CRM. CAF describes its platform as PCI compliant and says it monitors transactions and carries out customer due diligence and anti-money-laundering checks. To apply, charities first sign up for the CAF Charity Dashboard. Donations cannot be anonymous because donor details are provided for reconciliation. There are no monthly fees; one-off donations are charged at £4, paid once, or 3.5% for charities with a CAF Cash Account with CAF Bank. Regular donations are charged at £2, paid once, with a 20p minimum charge.
Who it suits
CAF Donate suits charities that want campaign pages or embedded donation forms, recurring gifts, and donor reporting. Charities must sign up for the CAF Charity Dashboard and pass CAF’s status and financial checks.
What it does well
- Supports Direct Debit, cards, PayPal, and CAF Account
- Campaign pages and embedded donation widget
- Donor reports can be uploaded to a CRM
- Gift Aid claims supported when CAF is appointed agent
What to know first
- Donations cannot be anonymous
- One-off donations cost £4, paid once
- Regular donations have a 20p minimum charge
Limits
Regular donations are billed at 2% of each gross donation, with a minimum 20p charge; Direct Debit setup costs £1 per paperless confirmation or £1.50 per paper confirmation. One-off donations cost 4% of the total donation including Gift Aid, reduced to 3.5% for charities with a CAF Cash Account with CAF Bank; there are no monthly fees.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CAF Donate regular donations | 2% of the gross donation, with a minimum charge of 20p per donation; Direct Debit setup costs £1 per paperless confirmation or £1.50 per paper confirmation. · No monthly fees · free to sign up | £2, paid once |
| CAF Donate one-off donations | 4% of the total donation, including Gift Aid; reduced to 3.5% for charities with a CAF Cash Account with CAF Bank. · No monthly fees · free to sign up | £4, paid once |
As cafonline.org lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Sign up for the CAF Charity Dashboard
- Apply for CAF Donate through the dashboard
- Complete CAF’s charity-status and financial checks
- Create a branded campaign page or embed the donation widget
- Choose payment and Gift Aid options for donors
Verdict
CAF Donate combines donation collection, campaign pages, Gift Aid support, and donor reporting for eligible charities. Its fees vary by donation type, and it requires donor information for reconciliation.
Questions
What does CAF Donate cost?
Regular donations cost 2% of the gross donation, with a 20p minimum per donation. One-off donations cost 4% including Gift Aid, or 3.5% for charities with a CAF Cash Account with CAF Bank; there are no monthly fees and sign-up is free.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. CAF Donate is listed with a free plan and no monthly fees, while donation transaction charges apply.
Which payment methods can donors use?
Donors can use credit or debit cards, PayPal, CAF Account, or Direct Debit. Charities can also collect donations by phone or post.
Can CAF Donate handle Gift Aid?
If appointed as Gift Aid agent, CAF checks eligibility, submits HMRC claims, reconciles returned funds, and pays Gift Aid to the charity’s bank account.
Can donations be embedded on a charity website?
Yes. A donation widget can be embedded and provides the same donation types and Gift Aid options as a campaign page.
How does a charity apply?
The charity first signs up for the CAF Charity Dashboard, then applies for CAF Donate there. CAF checks charity status and conducts financial checks.
Facts from CAF Donate's own pages
- Campaign pages
- Charities can create branded campaign pages, run multiple campaigns at the same time, and use pages that adapt to donors’ device sizes. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- CRM workflow
- CAF says charities can download donor and donation information and upload it to their CRM database. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Donation limit
- CAF Donate donations cannot be anonymous because CAF provides donor information for reconciliation, including marketing preferences. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Donation methods
- The service accepts donations by Direct Debit, credit or debit card, PayPal, and a CAF account, and supports collecting donations by phone or post. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Donor reports
- Charities can download donor and donation details and create tailored reports on campaigns, donors, and donations. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Eligibility and setup
- Charities first sign up for the CAF Charity Dashboard, then apply for CAF Donate through the dashboard; CAF says it checks charity status and conducts financial checks. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Embedded donations
- CAF Donate support says a donation widget can be embedded in a charity’s website and offers the same donation type and Gift Aid options as a campaign page. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1924 · cafonline.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Gift Aid
- If appointed as Gift Aid agent, CAF checks donation eligibility, submits claims to HMRC, reconciles returned funds, and pays Gift Aid into the charity’s bank account. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA, UK · cafonline.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Payment security
- CAF describes its donation platform as Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CAF Donate is an online donation platform for charities to raise funds and process donations. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Risk checks
- CAF says it monitors transactions and performs customer due diligence and anti-money-laundering checks on donations. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- CAF offers online guidance, resources, and telephone customer support at 03000 123 000. · cafonline.org, 5 Oct 2026