Fundraising website JustGiving has scrapped a 5% fee previously charged to charities in the UK, allowing more money to go to good causes.

Instead, donors will be asked if they want to make a voluntary contribution to support the operation of the website.

Until now, the 5% “platform fees” have been taken off amounts going to charity when people donate.

But JustGiving said platform fees will no longer be charged “with immediate effect” from Tuesday March 26.

The voluntary contributions will provide donors with “choice and transparency”, it said.

JustGiving, which has enabled more than £3.8 billion to be raised for charities since 2000, said the voluntary contributions made by donors will enable it to invest in innovation.

The announcement follows changes made in October which saw the removal of JustGiving’s platform fees for all crowdfunding, disasters and major incidents.

The changes followed an extensive consultation with JustGiving users and charities.

It said payments processed through JustGiving will still be subject to standard card processing fees of 1.9% plus 20p, “in line with other major online giving platforms”.

Keith Williams, JustGiving’s general manager and head of UK, said the website is “inspired by the generosity of our users, who have raised £3.8 billion for charities since we launched 19 years ago”.

He continued: “We believe that people who donate through JustGiving will be happy that more money will be going to their chosen charity.”