Regulating Fundraising for the Future

The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability Responds to the Proposal for a Fundraising Regulator

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) today published a review of the fundraising sector, Regulating Fundraising for the Future recommending that a new fundraising regulator is set-up. The report recognises that self-regulation of the charity sector has lost the confidence of fundraising organisations and the public, that the current system is unnecessarily complex, and has insufficient sanctions.

The NCVO review recommends that a new fundraising regulator should be funded by a levy on fundraising expenditure, with a single code of practice, and a more effective sanctions regime. Further it recommends the creation of a Fundraising Preference Service, where individuals can register if they no longer want to be contacted for fundraising purposes.

In response to the review Paul Allen, Chief Executive of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN), said,

“The RHN wants to move to a situation where donors have complete trust in the whole fundraising sector, and I welcome the transition to a new regulatory system.

“Our work would not be possible without the generosity of our donors. We value the privileged relationship that we have with them, and what the RHN means to them. A new Fundraising Preference Service would mean that we would always be aware of what their current wishes are.”

In future appeals and communications we will be moving to an “opt in” system. This will be done as soon as is practically possible.