Powering Seamless Donations with a Bespoke Giving Platform
Arrk leveraged its global delivery expertise to develop an advanced online charity donation and payment platform. This initiative supported the launch of a new global not-for-profit organization, which also served as a key partner in sponsoring a major international marathon event.
Customer
Part of a globally recognized group led by a renowned entrepreneur, the organization includes a diverse portfolio of companies worldwide. As an extension of its financial services, a dedicated not-for-profit initiative was launched to enable users to safely and securely fundraise for charities or make charitable donations through an online platform.
Part of Virgin Group Limited
Around 400 companies across the globe
Virgin Money Giving is a not-for-profit organisation
Allows users to fundraise for charities and make charitable donations
Situation
To support the sponsorship of a major international marathon in 2010, a not-for-profit initiative sought to create an online platform for fundraisers and charities to easily raise money for the marathon and other events. The online fundraising market was dominated by profit-driven companies that charged high transaction fees, reducing the amount that reached charities.
The organization required a solution offering superior features at a lower cost, ensuring more funds reached the charities while operating as a true not-for-profit platform.
The international marathon, established in 1981, is one of the largest mass-participation long-distance races in the world. Beyond elite athletes, most participants use the event to raise essential funds for various charitable causes.
Creating a Unified and Empowered Team
The collaborative environment fostered by the initiative allowed the entire team to have a voice in shaping the future of the business. Colleagues from diverse areas, management, helpdesk, account management, marketing, and IT came together as one team to design a seamless and improved customer journey.
This inclusive approach encouraged creativity, fostered meaningful contributions, and strengthened cross-departmental collaboration. The result is a more unified, engaged, and empowered team, ready to make a positive impact on the organization’s future.
New system required the creation of multiple user journeys
Costs had to be strictly controlled to retain Not-for-profit status
Extremely tight unmovable deadlines due to high profile launch
Highly competitive fundraising marketplace
“The EmbArrk created an environment that allowed their team to have a voice and to be involved in defining the future of our business. Colleagues from all the different areas, from Management to helpdesk, account management, marketing and IT were able to come together to work as one team to design the new customer journey. Colleagues embraced the opportunity to be creative and to make a difference, appreciating the opportunity to work with different areas of the business. The process has left a more unified team that feel empowered and more engaged”
“The EmbArrk created an environment that allowed the whole VMG team to have a voice and to be involved in defining the future of our business. Colleagues from all the different areas, from Management to helpdesk, account management, marketing and IT were able to come together to work as one team to design the new customer journey. Colleagues embraced the opportunity to be creative and to make a difference, appreciating the opportunity to work with different areas of the business. The process has left a more unified team that feel empowered and more engaged”
Alex Heasley - Commercial Director
Solution
The solution was developed through a collaborative effort between a joint team comprising the delivery organization, their consultants, and external analysts.
The focus was on designing key user journeys for charities, fundraisers, and donors, along with robust back-office support. Key requirements included:
Implementing a secure online payment system with precise credit card transaction validation.
Seamless integration with third-party financial accounting systems and software.
A user-friendly system for capturing donor and fundraiser details.
A streamlined registration process for charities.
A process of continuous integration was adopted to enable multiple teams, operating from various onshore and offshore locations, to collaborate efficiently.
To minimize upfront and operational costs, the platform’s architecture utilized a stack of open-source components. This approach ensured the solution was secure, scalable, and as robust as proprietary systems.
The focus was on designing key user journeys for charities, fundraisers, and donors, along with robust back-office support. Key requirements included:
Implementing a secure online payment system with precise credit card transaction validation.
Seamless integration with third-party financial accounting systems and software.
A user-friendly system for capturing donor and fundraiser details.
A streamlined registration process for charities.
A process of continuous integration was adopted to enable multiple teams, operating from various onshore and offshore locations, to collaborate efficiently.
To minimize upfront and operational costs, the platform’s architecture utilized a stack of open-source components. This approach ensured the solution was secure, scalable, and as robust as proprietary systems.
Open source tools used to deliver cost saving
Seamless integration with multiple systems
Secure online payments system with full audit trail
Distributed team model provided resource flexibility
Outcomes
The platform was launched successfully in time for a major international marathon in 2010, supporting the sponsorship of the global event. The solution delivered a cost-effective, open-source, and future-ready online fundraising platform using a hybrid Agile delivery model.
The project achieved its primary goal of minimizing operating costs, ensuring maximum revenue reached charities. For every £100m raised, the platform enabled an additional £5m in donations compared to other profit-driven fundraising websites.
The project achieved its primary goal of minimizing operating costs, ensuring maximum revenue reached charities. For every £100m raised, the platform enabled an additional £5m in donations compared to other profit-driven fundraising websites.
Project was successfully delivered on time and to budget
Solution generated an extra £5m for every £100m raised compared to alternatives
The system was fully scalable, maintainable and flexible to meet future needs
