FAQs
Any questions?
Find the answer in the FAQs below or contact us directly at supporters@bl.uk.
Are you a charity?
Yes. We have full exempt charitable status, but we don’t have a charity number from the Charity Commission. DCMS acts as our principal regulator for charity law purposes.
A gift to us still attracts the same tax benefits as to any other charity. We can claim Gift Aid on all qualifying donations and individual supporters can claim tax relief.
Can I add Gift Aid to my donation?
Yes, as long as you’re a UK tax payer and will pay more Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year that the amount of Gift Aid claimed on your donations. By adding Gift Aid, you’ll be boosting your donation by an extra 25p for every £1, making your gift stretch even further.
We’ll ask if you’d like to complete a Gift Aid Declaration when you donate through our website or you can request a form by contacting us at supporters@bl.uk.
How does match funding work?
Thanks to two generous match funders, we’ve secured a pot of £15,000 to match donations given to the appeal. All you have to do is donate to our conservation appeal and your donation will automatically be matched, doubling any gift you make.
If the match funding pot has been used up before you donate, your gift will not be matched but you will still make a vital contribution to our conservation work.
Where will my donation go if the target is exceeded?
Your donation will still go towards our conservation work, funding anything from a conservator’s specialist training to one hour of conservation on an incredible item from our collections.
What happens if you don't reach the target?
We really hope we will reach our target, but if we don't the money raised will still go towards our vital conservation work. Your donation will still make such a difference to what we can do.
I live outside the UK, can I donate?
Absolutely, you can donate via a credit or debit card on our website. If you’re giving from the US, you can make a tax-deductible donation through the American Trust of the British Library, a 501(c) (3) organisation. You can learn more about how to give here.
Why do you need my help?
As a charity, donations help us do so much more. Last year, our conservation team conserved 5,805 historic and fragile items in our collection, while providing additional maintenance to 3,958. This work means that those items will last for generations to come,
Can I support a different project?
Absolutely! From adopting a book to naming a seat, helping us digitise more of our collection to launching exhibitions that inspire: there are so many incredible ways to support us. Get in touch to discuss your thoughts at supporters@bl.uk.