[Industry]
Digital marketing for Charities & Not for profits
I help charities and not-for-profit organisations raise awareness, grow donations and reach the people they exist to support, through Google Ad Grants, paid advertising and websites built to convert.
Charity marketing
A freelance partner for purpose-driven organisations
Charity marketing is different. Success is not only clicks and conversions. It is supporters who stay, volunteers who turn up and services reaching the people who need them.
I work with charities and not-for-profits of all sizes, from small local groups to national organisations. I do the work myself, so your budget goes on marketing and not on agency overheads.
What charities ask me to grow
The challenges
Why marketing a charity is harder than it looks
Most charities I speak to are dealing with the same three problems.
Every pound is scrutinised
Trustees and funders want to see where the money went. I set up tracking that ties spend to donations, sign-ups and enquiries, and I report on it in plain English every month.
Small teams, long to-do lists
Marketing often sits with one person alongside fundraising, events and communications. I take the campaigns off your desk and keep you informed without adding meetings.
Free ad budget that is hard to use well
Google Ad Grants come with strict rules, and it is common for charities to spend only a fraction of what they are given. Managed properly, the grant becomes a steady source of new supporters.
Google Ad Grants
Up to $10,000 a month in free Google Ads for your charity
Google gives eligible charities up to $10,000 (around £7,500) of search advertising every month at no cost. It puts your charity in front of people who are actively searching for causes, services and volunteering opportunities like yours.
Is your charity eligible?
- You are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR in Scotland or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, or recognised by HMRC as a charity.
- You have a Google for Nonprofits account, which is free to set up.
- You have a working website on your own domain that clearly explains what you do.
- You are not a government body, hospital, school or university, which are generally not eligible.
Keeping the grant. The grant comes with conditions, including a 5% click-through rate across the account, no single-word keywords and working conversion tracking. Accounts that miss them can be suspended. I handle the application, build the account to meet the rules and manage it month to month so the budget keeps working.
How I help
Digital marketing services for charities
Most charities start with one of these and add others as results come in.
Google Ad Grants
Application, set-up and ongoing management, so you use the grant in full and stay within Google’s rules.
Google Ads
Paid search for the campaigns the grant cannot cover, such as competitive fundraising terms and appeals with a deadline.
Meta Ads
Facebook and Instagram campaigns that tell your story, find new supporters and bring lapsed donors back.
Website design and CRO
Clear donation journeys, fast pages and forms that people finish, so more of your visitors become supporters.
Results
Industry results
Revenue Increased over £20,000 in 24 months
Student enrolments increased from £50,000 to £70,000 within the space of 2 years.
Broke record for most enrolments in a term
After introducing Meta & Google in combination, the charity received the most students enrolments they’d ever had for a term.
"I run an educational and cultural Charity that recruited Ascend Digital for their digital marketing expertise, and since then our visibility has increased significantly and business is growing steadily. I highly recommend Ascend Digital!"
Director, Alliance Française de Manchester
FAQ
Digital marketing for charities: common questions
What does digital marketing for charities involve?
It covers the channels that help people find and support your cause online: search advertising, including Google Ad Grants, paid social on Facebook and Instagram, your website and donation journey, and the tracking that shows what is working. Most charities do not need all of it at once. I start with the channel most likely to move your main goal.
Is my charity eligible for Google Ad Grants?
In the UK you need to be registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, or be recognised by HMRC as a charity. You also need a Google for Nonprofits account and a website that meets Google’s standards. Government bodies, hospitals, schools and universities are generally not eligible. I can check your eligibility before you apply.
How much is the Google Ad Grant worth?
Up to $10,000 a month in Google search advertising, which is around £7,500 depending on the exchange rate. It is an in-kind grant, so it can only be spent on Google search ads, and it renews every month for as long as your account follows the programme rules.
How much does digital marketing cost for a charity?
It depends on the channels you need and how much is already set up. With an Ad Grant your advertising budget is covered by Google, so the main cost is management. [Add your typical starting fee or how you price charity work.] I will always tell you if I think a budget is too small to make a difference.
Do you work with small charities?
Yes. I work with organisations of all sizes, from small local charities to national ones. Smaller charities often benefit most from the Ad Grant, because it gives them an advertising budget they would not otherwise have.
Can you work alongside our in-house team?
Yes. Some charities hand me their paid advertising in full, while others keep content and social media in house and use me for the specialist parts. Either way you deal with me directly and get a clear report each month.
Get in touch
Let's talk about your marketing.
Choose whichever is easiest. I’ll tell you honestly where I can help.
Send me a message
By sending this form you agree to me using your details to reply to your enquiry. See the privacy policy.