How can I make a donation to ShelterBox?

You can make a donation via our website www.shelterbox.org. Alternatively, you can call our donation hotline on 0300 0300 500. Or you can send us a cheque. Make the cheque payable to ‘ShelterBox’ and send to ShelterBox, ShelterBox, Water-Ma-Trout, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0LW.

How much of my donation will go directly on aid?

With thanks to our large network of volunteers, ShelterBox are able to keep overheads to a minimum. Financial year end April 2011, 90% of our expenditure was on disaster relief operations. For further financial information you can download our 2009/2010 Annual Report by clicking here or by visiting the Charity Commission’s website here.

How will my money be used?

When you make a donation you can choose how you would like your money to be used. You can choose from the following options:

• Wherever my money is needed most - Our experience of working with people in emergency situations around the world means we can allocate our resources in the most effective way possible, ensuring your donation will be used wherever the need is greatest.
• ShelterBox Disaster Fund - We never know when or where the next disaster will strike.  The ShelterBox Disaster Fund allows us to invest in supplies and pre-position equipment; train our global network of volunteer ShelterBox Response Teams; increase our capacity to store and distribute ShelterBoxes; and continue to develop our specialist equipment and deliver the best possible aid package.
• Sponsor a box - Every ShelterBox has its own unique number. By sponsoring a box directly you’ll be able to find out where in the world your box has been sent.

Can I donate blankets, clothing, food or other goods for those affected by international disasters? 

ShelterBox provide a specific inventory of equipment which has been carefully sourced. We want to ensure that we maintain a high standard of quality and consistency across all of our equipment. For this reason we are unable to accept donations of goods. For further details about the items we pack in our ShelterBoxes please click here.

Can I Gift Aid my donation?

By completing a continuous Gift Aid Declaration ShelterBox can reclaim 25% on this donation, any donations you’ve made to ShelterBox in the past four years as well as any future donations from HM Inland Revenue & Customs. To qualify for Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of UK tax (Income and/or Capital Gains Tax), which is at least equal to the amount we will reclaim in each tax year, which is currently 25p for every £1 you give.

What else can I do to help? 

Fundraise
Fundraising for ShelterBox should be both fun and easy! Whatever you decide to do you will be making a difference to families who have been affected by disaster. Check our A to Z fundraising booklet which is full of great ideas to get you thinking. Download our fundraising booklet here.

We have an experienced fundraising team on hand. We’re here to help you decide what sort of event is right for you, as well as offer you any advice, support or materials you need to make sure your fundraiser is a success. Please call us on 01326 569782 or email fundraising@shelterbox.org 

Please do not fundraise specifically for a disaster. Remember, ShelterBox are unable to accept location specific donations. All the money you raise will go towards supporting our disaster relief work worldwide.

Tell your friends and family

You can also tell your friends and family about our appeal and the work we do and encourage them to support us. Or link from your website to ours.

Follow us

Join our group on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or YouTube. Or sign up to our newsletter to get regular updated about our work around the world. You can receive it by post or email. Click here to sign up.