Segment guide

Small charities & community groups

A guide to preparing grant, partner and community-support payments with clear evidence.

StructureCommitteeFundsRecipient
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Who it's for

Who this guide is for

This guide is for small charities, community associations, cultural groups and local organisations sending money to partners, projects or suppliers.

What to understand before you send

  • What the organisation is: registered charity, CIO, company, CIC, association, club or informal group.
  • Who can approve spend: trustees, directors, committee, treasurer, chair or delegated finance lead.
  • Whether funds are unrestricted or restricted to a specific purpose.
  • What the recipient is being paid for and how that supports the organisation's purpose.
  • Whether the organisation can produce a clean record if a funder, bank or provider asks.

What you’ll need

RequirementWhat this means in practice
Constitution or rulesThe document showing how the group is run and who can approve payments.
Committee/trustee approvalMinute, email approval or signatory note depending on the rules.
Fund sourceDonation, grant, fundraising, reserves or restricted fund note.
Recipient evidencePartner details, invoice, project note or grant purpose.
Payment summaryAmount, currency, destination country, timing and what should arrive.
Worked examples

Find the payment closest to yours

Identify the type of payment and the evidence to prepare before relying on a quote or sending money.

ExampleWhat to prepare
Community fundraiser sends overseas reliefAppeal purpose, committee approval, fund source, local partner evidence and beneficiary purpose.
Small charity pays field partnerGrant/project note, recipient due diligence, funding source and reporting expectation.
Association pays overseas event supplierInvoice, supplier details, event purpose, committee approval and route comparison.
Cultural group supports partner programmeProgramme note, recipient relationship, expected impact and source-of-funds explanation.
Readiness checklist

Are you ready to send?

If most of this is unclear, pause before sending the payment and clarify the evidence first.

  • We can describe the organisation's structure.
  • We know who can approve spend.
  • We can explain the fund source and any restriction.
  • We have recipient/project evidence.
  • We can compare route costs and expected received amount.
ReadyPurpose, authority, evidence and recipient are clear.
Needs workOne or two documents or approvals are missing.
High review riskSource, recipient or purpose cannot be explained.
Route & cost

Route and cost terms in plain English

Before choosing a bank, app or provider, check the whole route. The lowest visible fee may not mean the best outcome.

TermPlain-English meaning
Fixed feeThe upfront charge for sending the payment. It is only one part of the cost.
FX rate or marginThe exchange rate can matter more than the fixed fee, especially on larger payments.
OUR / SHA / BENSWIFT charge options. They affect whether the sender, recipient or both may bear charges.
Recipient deductionsIntermediary or recipient-bank charges can reduce what arrives.
Review questionsBanks and providers may ask for purpose, source of funds, recipient details or invoice evidence.

Questions to ask before sending

  • What is the all-in cost including fixed fee and FX rate?
  • What amount should arrive with the recipient?
  • Can charges be deducted by intermediary or recipient banks?
  • What documents could the provider ask for?
  • Who keeps the payment confirmation and evidence trail?
How Nasara helps

How Nasara helps

Nasara helps prepare a clearer payment file before money moves. Your provider or bank may still run its own checks.

  • Build a simple payment evidence file for trustees, committee members or funders.
  • Prepare source-of-funds and recipient-purpose notes.
  • Clarify route, fees, FX and deduction questions before payment.
  • Help the group create repeat-recipient records for future payments.

Get help preparing this payment.

Tell us about the transfer and we will help you prepare the evidence before money moves.

Important notes

Notes & official sources

Official charity guidance may apply where the organisation is a charity; informal groups should still keep clear approval and evidence records.

This guide does not replace legal, tax, customs, charity governance or regulated payment advice. It is designed to help you prepare clearer information before discussing a transfer route. This is general information only. Nasara does not promise the cheapest route or guaranteed transfer release.