Church Fundraising Practices Under Scrutiny: A Reminder from the Fundraising Regulator
Collections during church services, such as offerings and tithes, are more than just traditional practices. According to the Fundraising Regulator (FR), these activities fall under the umbrella of charitable giving and must adhere to the Code of Fundraising Practice (CFP).
Despite occasional misconceptions labeling the FR as a “quango,” it is actually a self-regulatory body that operates independently of government funding, sustained by voluntary contributions from charities and fundraisers.
The CFP is designed to enforce transparency, integrity, and respect in the realm of fundraising, ensuring all activities abide by legal standards.
Recent findings from the FR reveal a lack of awareness among many faith-based charities regarding the classification of worship event fundraising as charitable activity. This oversight has led to non-compliance with the CFP in some cases.
In a recent blog post, the FR highlighted an incident where a faith-based charity did not follow the CFP during a one-time appeal to gather funds for a new church building. The charity lacked a proper complaints procedure and failed to clarify the outcome if the fundraising target was not achieved.
Although the initial church purchase attempt failed, the fundraising continued, ultimately financing a different building acquisition.
The FR commented on this case, stating, “There were not any significant issues found with the fundraising campaign. The nature of a fundraising campaign to buy a building means this is likely to take some time, and there may be some unsuccessful attempts … There was no information to suggest donors had asked for their donations back and been refused, and the funds were restricted. We therefore did not find a breach about the conditions attached to the donations.”
Nonetheless, the charity did technically breach the CFP by failing to address a complaint from a former church member.
Nikki Renken, Head of Casework at the Fundraising Regulator, emphasized the importance of the regulator’s guidance: “The Fundraising Regulator can help faith-based organisations understand when fundraising activity falls within the scope of the code and to make sure the right safeguards are in place so that fundraising is carried out openly, respectfully and with appropriate support for those who may be in vulnerable circumstances.
“The Fundraising Regulator works to support organisations to fundraise in a way that reflects their values, builds trust and gives trustees confidence that they are meeting their responsibilities.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
