I don't want to be seen to be taking sides and don't intend to become embroiled in WMUK internal politics (which is why I've never joined the chapter).
I've never received an explanation as to why around $500,000 of Gift Aid is out of reach and unavailable to either WMUK or WMF, despite asking this be dealt with at Wikimania 2014.
Are there easily explainable circumstances, legislation changes or new rules which prevent donations to WMF to be processed in such a way as to be eligible to collect Gift Aid ?
If not, why hasn't WMF set up a British office to collect this money in the UK and/or why isn't WMUK processing payments and collecting Gift Aid this year ? This is a significant portion of what WMF will spend in the UK (via WMUK's request from the FDC) and would have made up to $500,000 available to spend elsewhere, either UK and/or globally.
The Institute of Fundraising suggests overseas charities fundraising in the UK should find a British charity that can act as a strategic partner, or have a local office (see http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/guidance/about-fundraising/raisin... ). I understand the structure is quite different, but Greenpeace does this through the UK based "Greenpeace Environmental Trust" which is a registered charity and which can collect Gift Aid. The donations + Gift Aid are then passed to "Greenpeace International" in Amsterdam, and that funds things like the "Rainbow Warrior".
I would also appreciate analysis being conducted to see if the loss of Gift Aid has deterred people in the UK from donating, because not collecting Gift Aid is bad enough, but also losing donations would be entirely unforgivable.
Kind Regards, Nick