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Fundraising website removed commission charges in October

Nearly twice as much money was donated to charity through fundraising website Bmycharity in November as in the same month last year.

More than £546,000 was donated through the site in November 2009, compared with £247,000 in the same month in 2008.

The average amount donated through the site has increased from £54.24 to £59.26 for the same periods.

The site announced in October that it had removed its commission charges and would be funded instead by a £150 sign-up fee from charities and an ‘applications' system whereby charities could choose which firms' adverts to place on their pages.

Ben Brabyn, managing director of Bmycharity, said more than 20 new charities had started using the site since it removed its commission charges. "In a tough economic environment, charities don't want to waste money by fundraising through sites that charge commission on charitable donations," he said.

"The increase in the average donation shows that when people know someone isn't taking a cut of their donations, they give more money."