Our approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Our approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We prioritise issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. This work is led by our Board of Trustees and embedded across the organisation. All of our activity is viewed through an EDI lens, and our four strategic pillars guide how we deliver a more inclusive fundraising community – one that raises more money for good causes from communities across the UK. 

We believe that fundraisers should reflect the communities they serve and the donors they engage. Our ambition is to build an equitable, diverse and inclusive profession where everyone feels they belong, can thrive, and has the opportunity to progress.                                                                                 

Our commitment 

Our vision is of a lifetime of impact, a career in fundraising. We know this can only be achieved through teams and organisations that are representative, inclusive and fair. Tackling inequality – including structural and systemic barriers – within our own organisation and across the wider fundraising sector is central to our mission as a charity and Chartered membership body. 

We use our reach and influence to promote inclusive practice, challenge discrimination and support our members to build workplaces where people from all backgrounds are welcomed, valued and supported.

Who isn’t in the room? 

In 2019 we published Who isn’t in the room?, a benchmarking report that evidenced the lack of equality and diversity in the fundraising profession and the qualitative responses within it highlighted the benefits that inclusive and diverse workplaces bring.  

While we developed many of the recommendations from this report through our Change Collective strategy, the pandemic and other challenges meant that we had to refocus some of them.  

We are now in a position to reset the benchmark with a further survey in 2026 and our Board and new Talent & Inclusion Panel will be driving activity on the back of the results of our updated benchmarking this year. 

Governance, policy and accountability 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy sets out how we create a safe and inclusive culture, respond to concerns, protect confidentiality, and ensure learning and accountability across the organisation. 

Responsibility for EDI sits at Board level and is supported by our executive leadership team. We are committed to transparency, continuous improvement and listening to the experiences of our members, staff and volunteers. 

We know this is ongoing work. We will not always get everything right, but we are committed to learning, improving and playing our part in building a more equal, diverse and inclusive fundraising profession. 

Find out more with our Equity, diversity and inclusion policy.