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Custom software for charity

We build bespoke systems for charity organisations: supporter and donation management, volunteer tools and impact reporting. Each one is shaped around how your team works and connected to the software you already rely on.

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Systems we build

Typical nonprofits projects. Each is scoped to your process, not a template.

  • Integrated Donor and Fundraising CRM

    A comprehensive donor management system that tracks all supporter interactions, manages Gift Aid declarations, processes online and offline donations, runs fundraising campaigns, generates tax receipts, and provides fundraising performance analytics by source, campaign, and supporter segment.

  • Impact Measurement and Reporting Platform

    A structured outcome tracking system that maps activities to a theory of change, collects beneficiary data through surveys and casework records, analyses outcomes against targets, and generates funder reports that demonstrate measurable social impact.

  • Volunteer Coordination and Engagement Portal

    A self-service platform where volunteers can browse opportunities, register interest, complete onboarding requirements, book shifts, log hours, and receive recognition. Managers can track DBS status, schedule volunteers based on skills and availability, and communicate through targeted notifications.

  • Grant Management and Reporting System

    A platform for grant-making organisations to manage the complete grant lifecycle from application receipt through assessment, award, monitoring, and evaluation. Includes applicant portals, assessment scoring, payment scheduling, and grantee reporting workflows.

  • Charity E-Commerce and Retail Platform

    An online shop platform for charity retail operations that handles product listings, payment processing with Gift Aid on donated goods profit, stock management across charity shops, and integration with EPOS systems in physical stores.

Problems we hear about

The issues that usually prompt the first conversation.
  • Limited technology budgets mean charities often rely on outdated or inappropriate software, with many still managing donor relationships, volunteers, and programme data in spreadsheets
  • Charity Commission reporting requirements including annual returns, accounts under SORP, and serious incident reports demand structured data management that manual systems cannot reliably support
  • Gift Aid processing represents a significant revenue source but complex HMRC claim processes and donor declaration management lead to unclaimed Gift Aid worth millions annually
  • Demonstrating impact to funders, trustees, and stakeholders requires structured outcome measurement and reporting that connects programme activities to measurable social change
  • Volunteer management at scale involves recruitment, DBS check coordination, shift scheduling, communication, and recognition across large volunteer bases with varying availability and skills

Off-the-shelf or custom?

There are good off-the-shelf products for most of charity. If one fits your process, use it; we will tell you if we think so. Custom software makes sense when your process is distinctive, when you are joining several tools together by hand, or when a product forces your team into workarounds every day.

Rules we design around

Legislation and standards that commonly shape systems in this sector. We design with them in mind; your compliance advisers have the final word.
  • Charities Act 2022
  • Charity Commission registration and reporting requirements
  • Charities SORP (FRS 102) accounting standards
  • Gift Aid regulations under Income Tax Act 2007
  • Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice
  • UK GDPR for supporter and beneficiary data
  • Safeguarding requirements for work with vulnerable groups
  • Equality Act 2010

Relevant services

Common questions

Does Elsio offer reduced rates for charities?
Yes. Elsio recognises the budget constraints faced by charitable organisations and offers discounted rates for registered charities and community interest companies. Each project is scoped to maximise value within available budgets, and Elsio actively recommends approaches that reduce cost without compromising functionality.
Can Elsio automate Gift Aid claims?
Yes. Elsio builds Gift Aid management systems that handle donor declaration collection and validation, eligibility checking, batch claim generation in the format required by HMRC Charities Online, and tracking of reclaimed amounts. Automated systems typically recover significantly more Gift Aid than manual processes.
Does Elsio understand Charity Commission requirements?
Yes. Elsio builds systems that support Charity Commission annual return submissions, SORP-compliant financial reporting, serious incident report management, and trustee duties documentation. The team understands the specific governance and accountability framework that applies to charitable organisations.
Can Elsio build fundraising platforms that comply with the Fundraising Regulator Code?
Yes. Elsio develops fundraising tools that implement the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice requirements including transparent communication, consent management, vulnerable person protections, and complaint handling procedures. All systems comply with PECR and UK GDPR requirements for supporter data.
Does Elsio work with social enterprises and CICs as well as charities?
Yes. Elsio works with all types of purpose-driven organisations including registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises, housing associations, and charitable incorporated organisations. Solutions are tailored to the specific legal structure and regulatory requirements of each organisation type.

Related sectors

Tell us about your nonprofits project

Send a short brief and we will come back with questions, a rough approach and whether we are the right fit. No sales sequence.

Start a projectCall 07343 090512

Prefer email? info@elslabs.co.uk

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