The Forward-Thinking Nonprofit: Leading Through Change
In this article and webinar, discover ways fundraisers can navigate change
Understanding the rules of fundraising is essential for charities across the UK to ensure campaigns are legal, ethical, and respectful to donors. This guidance explains the regulatory framework, including the Code of Fundraising Practice, covers the principles of honesty, transparency, donor care, secure handling of donations, and the responsibilities of charity trustees.
Fundraising is regulated by the Fundraising Regulator – an independent, non-statutory body that regulates fundraising across the charitable sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They set and maintain the standards for charitable fundraising in the Code of Fundraising Practice to ensure that fundraising is legal, honest, open and respectful to the public and investigate complaints from the public about fundraising (where those complaints haven’t been resolved by the charities themselves).
Fundraising regulation in Scotland is different to the system in place within England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Fundraising by charities only registered in Scotland is subject to Scottish charity law and the Scottish system of self-regulated fundraising through the Scottish Fundraising Standards Panel.
This is a recording of the webinar held on Wednesday 21 May 2025. This webinar includes a welcome by Katie Docherty, from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and a presentation by Conor Gibson from the Fundraising Regulator. If you’d like to access the extended recording of this webinar, which features a Q&A, and more webinars like this one, then become a member of the Chartered Institute.
While there are detailed rules to follow for each area of fundraising, it helps to remember that these rules are based on five simple principles. Good fundraising should always be legal, open, honest and respectful:
Being clear and truthful
Whether you are raising money for a charity or not, you will need to make it really clear who or what you are fundraising for. Always tell the truth and take care not to exaggerate any facts relating to beneficiaries.
Honouring your promises to supporters
If money is raised for a specific purpose, it has to be used for that purpose. This means that you will need to think carefully about what you will do if you raise more money than expected or if you fail to achieve your fundraising goals. If you think it’s likely that you may exceed your target, you may need to inform donors from the start how any excess funds will be used.
Treating the public fairly and with respect
We believe that fundraising should always be a positive experience; an action that enables the public to engage with and support the causes that really matter to them. So, always treat the public fairly and with respect, and take care never to pressurise anyone into giving, particularly those who may be considered vulnerable.
Read our guidance on fundraising with people in vulnerable circumstances.
Handling donations safely and securely
Think carefully about how you will handle funds. Safe and secure donation handling is important to protect the organisation from fraud, theft or embezzlement and to assure donors that their donations and gifts are used for the purpose for which they were given. There are specific laws for how to manage public collections, bank transactions and the signatories required to access charity bank accounts. Also, make sure that you carefully consider expenditure, ensuring that fundraising costs are proportionate.
Taking responsibility for your fundraising
If you have carefully considered your fundraising decisions, ensured that you have the right approvals internally and acted in line with your organisation’s values and policies, you shouldn’t go too far wrong. Be willing to stand up for your fundraising decisions and, if something does go wrong or a complaint is received, make sure you handle any concerns promptly and sensitively.
Some areas of fundraising are also subject to broader non-charity specific legislation, which is enforced by these regulators: