The Charity Commission is conducting a public consultation on revised draft guidance for trustees, which emphasises that trustees must take responsibility for the fundraising undertaken by their charities and has been revised in response to concerns about some of the methods used
The Commission says recent widespread criticism of charity fundraising, and the resulting damage to public trust and confidence in charities, has shown that some trustees have not overseen fundraising effectively.
The draft guidance signals a new approach to ensure improved oversight by trustees and makes clear that trustees have a key role to play in setting their charity’s approach to fundraising and ensuring it reflects their charity’s values.
The draft guidance identifies six key principles to help trustees fulfil their responsibilities for their charity’s fundraising. These are: plan effectively; supervise fundraisers; protect the charity’s reputation and other assets; comply with fundraising law; follow recognised standards; and be open and accountable.
Sarah Atkinson, director of policy and communications at the Commission said: ‘We have seen this summer what happens when donor and public confidence in charity fundraising is damaged, and as a result the reputation of charities as a whole. No-one wants to see such critical headlines again.
‘The revised guidance reflects the need to put public trust back at the heart of charity fundraising. It makes absolutely clear that trustees are in the driving seat of their charity’s approach to fundraising. This doesn’t mean that we expect them to become expert fundraisers themselves - but the buck really does stop with them.’
The new guidance, Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties (CC20), will replace the current guidance (Charities and Fundraising (CC20)). It is designed to be more succinct and should be accessible for all trustees.
The commission welcomes feedback from trustees of all size charities as well as the public and other interested parties to ensure the guidance is clear to everyone. The deadline for comment is 11 February 2016.
The draft guidance is here
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