On Saturday an article in The Times gave details of historical incidents of sexual harassment in fundraising and action taken by the Chartered Institute to remove membership following an investigation. While the article is behind a paywall, many of you will have either read the story or seen it quoted and shared on social media.
I know it will have been upsetting and caused anger to read the details of the incidents and I’m sure your thoughts, like mine, will be with the women who have experienced completely unacceptable behaviour. In our statement to The Times, we made it clear that this has no place in the fundraising profession, and that any such behaviour is utterly condemned. In light of this article, we thought it important to share once again with you all the information on our actions, improvements, and changes over the last 18 months to ensure a safe fundraising profession.
Our CEO, Katie Docherty, has spoken of her zero-tolerance approach, which I and the rest of our board wholeheartedly endorse. A huge amount of work has been undertaken within the Chartered Institute to improve over the last 18 months with many positive actions taken to prevent incidents and ensure that complaints and investigations are responded to swiftly and effectively. These include:
- bringing in a new mandatory Code of Behaviour for events
- introducing a new system to report inappropriate behaviour which can be used anonymously
- mandatory safeguarding training for all Chartered Institute staff and volunteers
- a new screening process to ensure that anyone who has been suspended or expelled due to an investigation cannot participate in our events or activities.
- joining the misconduct disclosure scheme to prevent perpetrators of sexual misconduct moving between organisations undetected.
You can read more information and blogs on these schemes and changes from Michele Welch, our Head of Professional Conduct and all members can watch a recent webinar with Katie and Michele who discuss these actions – available in our member portal.
We are committed to continually improving not only our own processes but advocating on behalf of fundraisers and have entered into a partnership with the Directory of Social Change to source funding for a piece of research exploring the extent and types of sexual harassment experienced by fundraisers.
In August 2021 we released a report on the outcome of investigations into sexual harassment allegations and organisational failings. In this report, I along with my fellow Trustees committed to commissioning an external review of complaints and our response to them. The Independent Reviewer was appointed in March 2022 and having received regular updates on progress, we are currently expecting it to conclude this winter. While this has taken longer than first expected, it is important that the Reviewer is able to fully carry out all the interviews and undertake the work that has developed during the course of the review.
I hope that this information is helpful for you in addressing any questions or concerns that may have arisen with the publication of the article. Our Head of Professional Conduct, Michele Welch, would be happy to talk to any member if you have any questions about this email or about our work on safeguarding and our future next steps: michelew@ciof.org.uk
The entire organisation and our Board is wholly committed to ensuring fundraising is safe and to take the Chartered Institute forward for you, and the wider fundraising community.
Nadine, Chair, Chartered Institute of Fundraising