Fundraising Self-Regulation – where are we now?
Back in September 2016 NICVA began its sector-wide consultation on the future of fundraising self-regulation in Northern Ireland. The backdrop to this was government insistence on a new, more robust form of fundraising regulation due to the furore caused by several high-profile cases involving negative fundraising practices, most notably the case of Olive Cooke.
Fast forward to today and charities here are now signing up to the new Fundraising Regulator and/or committing to its Code of Fundraising Practice in droves. Northern Ireland is now also represented on the Board of the new Fundraising Regulator in the form of Walter Radar, well known to many here from his time as the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Director and his work in helping set up the Charity Commission.
March 2018 then also saw the launch of the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) in Northern Ireland. 20% of the suppressions so far have been made on behalf of other people: this demonstrates that it may at least be an invaluable resource in protecting the more vulnerable from unwanted direct marketing from charities.
With GDPR also on the horizon, the Fundraising Regulator further demonstrated its commitment to supporting charities by working with the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) to produce produced ‘bite-sized’ guidance briefings aimed at smaller organisations covering the implications of GDPR on legacy, charitable trust, community and corporate fundraising.
All of this is great news: the sector’s continued commitment to good practice in fundraising is far and away the best means of ensuring that public confidence remains at the extremely high level evidenced in the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s Public Trust and Confidence in Charities 2016 research.
As part of their joint commitment to supporting fundraising self- NICVA and the Fundraising Regulator are now inviting all NI fundraising organisations to a free “one stop” Fundraising Regulation Seminar on 12 June. This aims to cover everything you need to know to keep your fundraising legal, ethical and fully respectful of those who entrust their money to your organisation.
As well as the opportunity to meet with Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Regulator, there will be round table discussions and a panel of experts will also be available to answer your queries on best practice in fundraising.
To sign up for a free place, click here