The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has published a new set of Rule Books for door-to-door, private site and street fundraising, marking an important step in strengthening standards across face-to-face fundraising and aligning the public fundraising programme with the updated Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice.
Public fundraising remains one of the charity sector's most visible and effective ways of engaging supporters. Every conversation on a doorstep, in a shopping centre, or on a high street helps charities reach new audiences, build meaningful relationships and secure the income needed to deliver their missions. For that reason, maintaining public trust and confidence is essential.
The new Rule Books have been developed following extensive consultation with charity and fundraising agency members and have been updated to reflect the latest regulatory requirements, including the revised Code of Fundraising Practice and, where relevant, the Gambling Commission's Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. At the same time, they retain and strengthen a number of additional standards developed specifically by the Chartered Institute's public fundraising community.
One of the most significant benefits of the revised Rule Books is the clarity they provide.
Each Rule Book clearly distinguishes between requirements that come from external regulation and additional rules introduced through the CIOF Public Fundraising programme. Separate expectations are set out for frontline fundraisers and operational teams, ensuring that everyone involved in delivering campaigns understands their responsibilities.
The Rule Books also provide a transparent framework for compliance monitoring, reporting concerns, investigating alleged breaches, applying sanctions and hearing appeals. This creates a more consistent and accountable environment for charities, agencies and fundraisers alike.
A key theme throughout the revised Rule Books is protecting and respecting members of the public.
For door-to-door fundraising, the rules make clear that fundraisers must respect legitimate No Cold Calling Zones and must not approach properties displaying notices such as "No Cold Callers" or "No Charity Fundraisers". These provisions recognise public preferences and reinforce the principle that fundraising should always be carried out with respect and consent.
For street and private site fundraising, the rules make it explicit that fundraisers must not deliberately obstruct members of the public, create congestion or cause nuisance. The familiar focus on respectful public engagement remains central to effective face-to-face fundraising.
The revised Rule Books also strengthen expectations around subcontracting.
Where fundraising agencies use subcontractors, they must disclose all subcontractors operating within their fundraising supply chain and ensure contractual arrangements require compliance with CIOF rules throughout that chain. These measures improve transparency, strengthen oversight and help maintain consistent standards wherever fundraising activity is delivered.
The new Rule Books also place an increased emphasis on operational discipline and governance.
For private site fundraising, organisations must secure and retain clear evidence of permission to fundraise, providing greater assurance for venues, charities and the public.
For street fundraising, organisations are required to comply with site boundaries, team-size limits, frequency controls and any additional local conditions applying to CIOF-managed locations.
The publication of these Rule Books reinforces a simple principle: successful public fundraising depends on trust.
By aligning with the updated Code of Fundraising Practice while improving additional sector-led safeguards, the new Rule Books provide charities, agencies and fundraisers with a practical framework for delivering fundraising that is legal, respectful, transparent and accountable.
As public fundraising continues to evolve, these standards will help ensure that every fundraising interaction reflects the professionalism of the sector and supports public confidence in charitable giving.
