Tag: Charity Commission

Setting up a general or emergency fundraising appeal: new advice for the public

Stuart Mitchell

Advice from the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission for England and Wales for members of the public who are thinking about fundraising for charity, including for an emergency. Anyone can set up an appeal to raise money for a cause that matters to them. You might have been planning to launch your appeal for some time or you might want to set one up in response to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or major accident. The ability to raise money online means it is possible to set…

Read More

Regulator publishes new guidelines on grant-making as charity sector continues to feel financial squeeze

Stuart Mitchell

The Charity Commission has published new guidance to help charity trustees make confident, responsible grant-making decisions at a time when many charities are facing sustained financial pressure. Thousands of charities carry out their purposes by making grants to other organisations. This guidance explores the fundamentals of effective grant-making, from setting funding priorities and carrying out due diligence, to monitoring grants and reporting impact.    In March, the charity regulator revealed that grant-making charities awarded £17.84 billion in grants during 2024, up from £16.97 billion in 2023, which included £12 billion to other charities. However, for a third…

Read More

Charity mergers up 90% as organisations look for economies of scale

Stuart Mitchell

Consolidation in the charity sector has seen an annual jump of 90% – reaching a record high, according to analysis of Charity Commission data by RSM UK. The number of charities recording mergers increased from 174 in 2023 to 331 in 2024, as growing cost pressures led charities to consolidate to deliver economies of scale. With over 180,000 charities in England and Wales, mergers can offer several benefits to the sector including reducing the duplication of efforts and resource where multiple charities might have the same objectives. Nick Sladden, partner…

Read More

Charity trustees highly recommend their role to others, new PBE research shows

Stuart Mitchell

At a time when many charities carry trustee vacancies on their boards, trustees are overwhelmingly likely to recommend trusteeship to others.  These early findings emerge from in-depth research into trusteeship, conducted as part of a collaborative project between the Charity Commission and PBE, which aims to better understand who trustees are and what skills they bring to the role. These findings coincide with Trustees’ Week, an annual celebration of the achievements of almost 1 million trustees across the UK, recognising the time, commitment and effort they bring to lead and…

Read More

Charity Regulator refreshes guidance as it reveals 600 cases related to fraud in the last year

Stuart Mitchell

The Charity Commission has unveiled a refreshed suite of guidance to help trustees protect their charities from fraud and cyber crime. This comes as the regulator reveals it opened 603 cases relating to fraud and a further 99 cases relating to cyber crime issues in the last year.   Launching in Charity Fraud Awareness Week, the charity regulator has published bespoke guidance on how trustees can protect their charity from cyber crime and a separate shorter guide on fraud. These guides, which replace the regulator’s previous guidance, are more concise…

Read More