The Commission on the Donor Experience makes suggestions for fundraising improvement
The Institute of Fundraising is to take over the work of the Commission on the Donor Experience after the Commission published its final report, making recommendations on how to improve fundraising, to improve standards and move away from organisational self-interest. The highly detailed report is available online on SOFII.
News from The Fundraising Regulator
The Fundraising Regulator has been much in the news in recent weeks:
- The Fundraising Preference Service (FPS), a website-based service enabling people to stop email, telephone calls, addressed post and/or text messages directed to them personally from a selected charity or charities, was launched by The Fundraising Regulator on 6 July 2017. The Charities Guide to FPS, published last year, is still a useful source of information.
- It published a public list of all charities that have registered with the regulator.
- It published its first annual report and accounts and its first Annual Review.
- Gerald Oppenheim, head of policy at the Fundraising Regulator, indicated that GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) was likely to necessitate ’50 or 60 changes to the Code of Fundraising Practice’.
The fundraising blogs
- My experience of being a woman in the charity sector – Beth Upton
- There is no “average conversion rate” – Beate Sørum
- Five big issues all fundraisers face – Amanda Bringans
- The most effective way to gain supporter consent – Kiki Koutmeridou
- Treat donors well and they will give more – Giles Pegram
Other fundraising and sustainability news
HMRC updates charities Gift Aid guidance
HMRC has updated its detailed guidance notes for charities on how the tax system operates. The guidance notes feature chapters on Gift Aid, applying for recognition as a charity for tax purposes, and payroll giving.
‘Big Four’ arts bodies face funding cuts
The Arts Council has cut funding to major arts bodies such as The Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Southbank Centre and allocated more money to smaller companies outside London that can demonstrate a commitment to diversity and disadvantaged communities.
Charities could be missing out on £100m in legacy gifts, says report
As reported by Third Sector, the charity sector could be missing out on as much as £100m a year because people are leaving legacy gifts in a non-legally binding form, a survey of legacy officers and lawyers has found.
Training and events
Go to the training and events section of our website to see all our upcoming events. Highlights include:
- Strategy for growth and development – 28 and 29 September
- Data Protection reform – 28 September, Manchester; 20 October, Bristol; and 17 November, London
- Show me the money: funding your strategy now and in the future – 3 October, Sheffield and 11 October, London
- NCVO/BWB Trustee Conference 2017: Good governance in action – 14 November
- Writing successful bids – 1 December
- Certificate in sustainable funding strategies – Starts 4 December. Our flagship OCN accredited course will help you create a funding strategy for your organisation.
- NCVO Annual Conference 2018 will be on Monday 16 April – register your interest
You can always contact us about training or consultancy support. And if you have anything you think we should include in next month’s round-up, please do drop me a line.
Find grant and contract opportunities
Funding Central has thousands of funding opportunities. Access is free for voluntary organisations with an income under £100,000.
Richard Sved is an NCVO sustainable funding consultant. He has worked and volunteered in the charity sector for 25 years. He has led the fundraising function (in-house and as an interim) for six national charities, including National Literacy Trust, Leap Confronting Conflict and Girlguiding. 
