Responding to sector challenges and evolving fundraising practices, and in the wake of the Fundraising Regulator’s Market Inquiry into sub-contracting in face-to-face fundraising, the guidance sets out clear expectations for charities and fundraising agencies, with new sections covering sub-contracting arrangements, safeguarding of fundraisers, transparent job advertising and robust due diligence.
The updated framework – which is the first major revision to this guidance since 2016 – provides advice for charity leaders and trustees on how they should manage outsourced fundraising responsibility, understand and ensure transparency in payment models, and protect frontline workers through fair working conditions, whistleblowing policies, and support in potentially isolated roles like door-to-door fundraising.
We worked very closely with our Public Fundraising Advisory Panel to pinpoint some of the really key areas of concern we needed to develop in this guidance. The Panel was made up of representatives from 12 of our organisational members who are engaged in regular face-to-face fundraising campaigns.
We have built on existing best practice and introduced new recommendations in some of those key areas that matter most:
- Subcontracting: reflecting guidelines from the Fundraising Regulator, we have set out clear expectations for how charities and agencies should manage outsourced fundraising responsibly – including trustees having a clear line of sight when it comes to knowing who is representing their charity in public fundraising settings.
- Safeguarding fundraisers: we have included emphasis on fair working conditions, appropriate pay for hours worked, and policies that protect fundraisers in potentially isolated roles like door-to-door.
- Transparent job advertising: we want to ensure that fundraisers understand the roles they’re applying for, and the payment models behind them.
- Due diligence and oversight: helping trustees and senior charity leaders understand their responsibilities when working with professional fundraising agencies.
In addition to the new Guidance, you can also find out: