Code of Fundraising Practice
The Fundraising Regulator is responsible for the regulation of fundraising within the UK.
As part of their duties, they provide the Code of Fundraising Practice (The Code) to help charities comply with current regulations. The Code applies to all charitable fundraising activities in the UK.
There are four main values that The Code brings to our fundraising:
Legality – ensuring that our fundraising activities meet current legal requirements.
Openness - ensuring that how we go about our fundraising is clear and we are willing to explain what we are doing and why.
Honesty – ensuring that we always act with integrity. We do not try to hide what we are raising money for, nor mislead our donors into thinking they are giving towards something else.
Respectfulness – ensuring that we treat everyone with respect. We do not pressure people to give, nor do we try to take advantage of anyone’s personal character or situation.
Why does it matter for my Giving in Grace programme?
Although The Code is not legally binding, it does set out how we ask all users of the Giving in Grace programme to behave and present the resources provided.
You will see that throughout the website we have reminders of this code. It is our responsibility to make sure no one, especially the vulnerable, is put under undue pressure to give financially. We can make sure we do this by communicating sensitively, using the points above.
The Giving in Grace programme is designed to move people’s hearts and make space for a culture of generosity within a church, with the goal to meet the financial needs of the mission by making a compelling ask of your church community. It should always be made clear when teaching, preaching and communicating with your church that those who cannot give, or increase their giving, at this time should not give. This is made clear in our ‘Making the Ask’ literature.
Yes, generosity is for everyone, but we must be vigilant to protect and safeguard those who are vulnerable among us.
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion…”
Further guidance for churches can be found on the Church of England website page describing The Code, while the full text can be found on the Fundraising Regulator website.