06:00, 12 March 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
The days of donating spare change seem that they are over - in a post-COVID world, cash, and the opportunity to use it, is thin on the ground. While this is convenient for many people, it does limit opportunities for donation - whether that is to someone experiencing homelessness, or in a box at the till.
That’s where GIFTT comes in.
The brainchild of twin brothers Harrison and Jackson, GIFTT is an innovative piece of technology that allows people to make quick, seamless, and private donations with the click of a button.
"We were getting frustrated ourselves as donors,” explains Harrison. “The process of making a donation was becoming more and more time-consuming. After COVID, with people not using cash anymore, we asked ourselves: how can we make this process easier and quicker?"
With no sign up required, all it takes to make a donation through GIFTT is scanning a QR code, or clicking a link, and entering your payment information.
Harrison says: "The whole concept behind it was for people to make a donation in under five seconds, just like taking cash out of your pocket and dropping it in a bucket."
GIFTT is perfect for charities, but also for businesses and individuals who are looking to raise donations. Monthly subscriptions start from just £11, making it super affordable for even tiny charities.
"Our main goal was to cut out any fee structure,” adds Harrison. “If someone donates £100, we want that £100 to go to the charity. Small charities in particular need quick access to funds to make an impact."
The money can be in your bank account just 24 hours after donations are made, making life easy for charities relying on these funds to keep ticking over.
"We want to bring doing good to the world. It’s a global product that has worked in 27 different countries, and we want to provide opportunities for people everywhere."
In a world that throws all kinds of information at you all the time, finding the time and energy to get involved with and donate to charities is harder than ever. Speeding up the process makes it easier than ever for people to support causes close to their hearts.
"People don’t have time. We live in a world where attention spans are five seconds long, and we need to capture that moment when someone wants to give,” says Harrison. “Make it simple, make it quick, and let them move on with their day."
So far, GIFTT has helped to raise money for around 200 charities, received donations from 27 countries, and has over 15,000 active users. In their second year, they are projected to raise just under a quarter of a million pounds for deserving causes.
“Our next phase is to build a community,” adds Harrison. “So we're currently underway building a kind of a community practice app, which then will bring [fundraisers] together.”
This community app would be a space for people to connect based on the causes they are trying to support. For example, if you were running a marathon to raise money for cancer, you would be able to connect with others doing the same thing. Here, you will be bale to share tips, find running partners, and so much more.
Today GIFTT is a piece of technology that helps you donate to important causes - but its future lies in connecting people who are passionate about charity. That’s why the Smiley Charity Film Awards are proud to have GIFTT involved in their award ceremony, taking place on March 20th 2025.
“With the cost of living crisis, charity donations are dwindling,” says Harrison. “We need to ensure that these charities stay alive, because what they do … is inspiring.“
“They change lives, and we're just a small part of that, and we want to make as big an impact as possible.”
To learn more about GIFTT, you can visit their website here.
For more information on the Smiley Charity Film Awards, visit their website here.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Fore. This charity is transforming lives and society by turbo-charging exceptional small charities and social enterprises. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
The Henry Smith Charity. This is a grant giving charity that aims to use its resources to help people and communities in the UK. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnerships for the Goals.
