Campaigning for Change

The Institute campaigns on several fronts to ensure government, business and charity law regulators are aware of the benefits of fundraising to society and also aware of the challengers fundraisers face.

Our aim is always to campaign for positive changes that raise the standards in fundraising and help our 4000+ organisational and individual members fundraise for their organisations.

Our campaigns may be short-lived or on-going. Some of our current campaigns include:

• What is the future of Gift Aid?
  On 9 May 2007, the Institute held a members’ forum attended by 100 charity, government and HMRC representatives to explore ways of re-couping the £70 million Gift Aid rebate income that charities stand to lose as a result of the Government tax rate reduction announced in the March 2007 budget. If you would like to provide input into the Institute’s submission to the government consultation on Gift Aid, email Policy.
• Direct Mail Code
  This key Code of Fundraising Practice is currently in development. The Institute is determined to ensure that the public, charities and the press engage in the debate on best practice in direct mail. The Direct Mail Code of Fundraising Practice will be launched for public consultation on 2nd July 2007.
• SMS Text Donations
  The Institute has had an ongoing campaign to enable charities to receive SMS text message donations cost effectively. To read a briefing "click here". To read about services that can help you fundraise using SMS text messaging click here (LUUP press release)
• Unclaimed assets
  The Institute has lobbied on behalf of charities’ entitlement to unclaimed assets. To read the Institute's response visit the Commission for Unclaimed Assets web site.

Past Policy and Campaign Work

• Lobbying MPs on public collections component of the Charities Bill.
• Maximising Tax-Effective Giving via a two-year information and technical support project aimed at smaller charities.
• Input into consultations on charity law and public policy. The Institute of Fundraising worked to develop and have adopted an International Statement of Ethics in Fundraising (36kb), a set of values and standards for the global fundraising community, unanimously approved by 24 countries in October 2006.