The Cabinet Office has published draft guidance to help
professional fundraisers and retailers who raise money for charity
through sales to comply with new laws.
Since 1st April 08, fundraisers who are paid to raise
money are required to say up front to potential donors how
much of each donation will actually go to the charity, and what
proportion goes towards their own wages.
This will apply to street, telephone and door-to-door
collectors.
Shop owners who donate a portion of the sale price of particular
items are also required to state the extent to which a charity will
benefit.
The new laws, which are provisions of the Charities Act
2006, aim to ensure that the public can make informed
decisions about donating or purchasing a product from which a
charity will benefit. They also aim to help protect the high levels
of public trust that charities need to thrive.
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said: "People have a
right to know how much of what they give will actually go to
charity. Professional fundraising is a legitimate and very
effective way to raise money for the charities that do a huge
amount to tackle poverty and injustice in our world. This will
ensure that they can operate with full transparency, which will
help maintain high levels of public trust in charities. This
guidance aims to help professional fundraisers know what the law
requires of them, and the Government is keen to have the views of
charities on today's draft version".
GUIDANCE
The new guidance offers suggested template statements, aiming to
help professional fundraisers and others to provide the information
required by law.
The changes to the requirements on fundraising statements are
the first part of a series of changes, aiming to ensure that
new fundraising techniques do not damage the high levels of public
trust in charities. The Government has already helped the
charitable sector to establish self-regulation of fundraising, with
the Fundraising Standards Board.
The Cabinet Office is seeking comments on the guidance by 31st
May 2008.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information and to view the guidance, please visit
the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/law_and_regulation/fundraising_and_collections.aspx
For further information on the Charities Act 2006, including a
Plain English Guide to the Act, please visit:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/law_and_regulation/charities_act_2006.aspx
For further general information on the Third Sector please visit
the Cabinet Office website at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector
For further information on the Fundraising Standards Board
(FRSB) please
visit: www.frsb.org.uk