Knowing the rules

Governance and Compliance
Standard Content

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.

An introduction to the Code of Fundraising Practice

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:

Other regulators

Some areas of fundraising are also subject to broader non-charity specific legislation, which is enforced by these regulators:

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator

Advertising Standards Authority

Information Commissioner’s Office

Ofcom

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