Good things grow from deep roots.
Over years volunteering for charities, being a Trustee, providing consultancy services and then being a founder, he sat in the room where governance decisions were made, safeguarding policies were written, and Boards asked ‘are we doing this right?’ – and watched as the tools available to answer that question fell short.
The fundraising CRMs didn’t handle case management. The case management systems didn’t handle fundraising. Neither handled governance, compliance, or board reporting. Everyone was juggling spreadsheets, Mailchimp, Doodle, shared drives, and whatever else they could cobble together. It was a patchwork – and too easy for things to be missed.
So James built the platform he wished existed. A single system where a charity could manage its supporters, deliver its services, coordinate its volunteers, run its events, stay compliant, report to its board, and find its next grant – all in one place. Not a fundraising tool with extras bolted on. A platform designed for how charities actually work.
Why “Alder”?
The Alder tree is one of the first to grow on bare ground. It fixes nitrogen from the air, enriching the soil so other plants can follow. It’s not showy – it just quietly makes things better for everything around it.
We named the platform after it because that’s the role we want to play. The reliable foundation that helps your charity do more of what matters.
Alder tree in Ekenäs, Finland, by Henry Schneider
What we believe
Small charities have been an afterthought
86% of UK charities have an income under £500k. Nearly a third have no CRM at all. The market has been designed for larger organisations with larger budgets and dedicated IT teams. Small charities deserve tools built for how they actually work.
Software should help you know what to do
A CRM shouldn't just store data — it should help you act on it. Alder surfaces guidance on governance, safeguarding, and compliance so your team always knows the next step. A co-pilot for running your charity, not just a database.
Transparent pricing isn't a feature
Pricing is on the website. Every feature is included at every tier. There's no "call for a quote" and no surprise invoices. If you have fewer than 500 contacts, Alder is free — because every charity should be able to get started without a budget decision.
Trust is earned, not assumed
Charities handle sensitive data — safeguarding records, donor details, vulnerable people. Alder is built with full audit trails, role-based access, and GDPR compliance baked in from day one. Your data stays in the UK, and you stay in control.
Ready to put down roots?
Join our first 100 charities and get a free governance healthcheck – a genuine 45-minute review with our founder, whether or not you use Alder.