Guidance: Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties (CC20)

Many charities rely on public donations to fund their work.

Getting this right doesn’t just mean benefitting from the public’s financial support. How your charity fundraises can help it raise its profile, explain its impact, and connect to people who support your charity’s cause and want to make a difference.

There are also laws that apply to fundraising.  As trustees, you must:

You should also register with the Fundraising Regulator and follow the Code of Fundraising Practice. The code sets out standards that apply to charities and fundraisers. 

Complying with the law and following the code will:

Comply with the law and follow the fundraising code

There are laws that apply to fundraising, and some are detailed and complex. They cover areas like working with commercial organisations and licensing.

It also signposts to the Code of Fundraising Practice, which is based on the law and good practice. The code sets out standards that charities and fundraisers should follow, and covers areas like:

different types of fundraising, such as using online platforms, cash collections and competitions

Some charities must state in their trustees’ annual report whether they follow the fundraising code.