Canva is a fantastic tool. It’s quick, easy, and makes design accessible to everyone. But charities need to think twice before relying on it for everything.

Although Canva offers a free premium version for registered charities, the hidden costs can quickly add up – in time, quality, and, most importantly, impact.

Time is money – and Canva eats it up

One of the biggest misconceptions about Canva is that it saves time. It may well provide templates and drag-and-drop features, but without a design background, you can spend hours tweaking something that still won’t look quite right. For a charity, that’s precious time taken away from fundraising, supporting beneficiaries, or delivering vital services.

If a staff member spends an average of 2 hours per week on Canva for various design tasks (social media, reports, flyers, etc), that adds up to:

• 8 hours per month
• 96 hours per year

If their salary is £30,000 per year (roughly £15 per hour), the cost in staff time alone is:

• £120 per month
• £1,440 per year

But here’s the real cost – what could they have achieved instead? If those 8 hours a month were spent on fundraising rather than DIY design, how much more money could have been raised? If a fundraiser could bring in £1,200 in the same amount of time, that’s a huge, missed opportunity.

Branding inconsistencies dilute your message

Branding is more than just a logo and a colour scheme (although that helps!) – it’s about consistency, professionalism, and recognition. Canva’s templates are used by thousands of people, meaning your charity’s materials can end up looking similar to countless others. Worse still, when different team members create designs without a clear understanding of brand guidelines, you risk an inconsistent and unprofessional visual identity.

Hidden costs add up

• Weak branding can lead to confusion and loss of trust.
• If poorly designed materials fail to attract donors, that’s lost potential income.
• Incorrect file formats or low-quality designs can lead to printing issues, wasting money.

Good design isn’t just about looking nice

Design isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about communication. Graphic designers understand how to use layout, typography, and imagery to direct attention, create impact, and guide the viewer’s journey. Canva’s DIY approach often results in designs that are cluttered, unclear, or ineffective at getting the message across.

Your charity deserves better

At Ginger and Tall, we only work with charities, meaning we know the sector inside out. We understand the challenges you face and the importance of making every penny count. That’s why we create designs that don’t just look good – they work hard for you, strengthening your brand, engaging your audience, and helping you achieve your mission.

Working with us will give you better results, greater consistency, and more impact for your cause.

We do good design – so you don’t have to.

We’re already working with an impressive list of charities across Wales and the UK.

Send us a message – we’d love to quote on a piece of work.