The Fundraising Standards Boards runs the only self-regulatory scheme for fundraising bodies in the UK.

It exists to encourage high standards in fundraising in order to improve public trust and confidence in charities. It also fields complaints or concerns from the public about fundraising.

Members pledge to adhere to the Institute of Fundraising’s code of practice and in return are given the use of a kitemark that aims to reassure donors that they abide by high standards.  

It was set up in 2006 and launched to the public in 2007 in February after wide consultation from key people from charitable and governmental bodies. It is funded by grants totalling £1.7m from the Office of the Third Sector as well as the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Government, alongside membership fees. It has more than 1,000 members but membership fees are still not enough to allow it to sustain itself without outside assistance.  The original five-year target for charity members was 4,500; this was revised in 2008 to 2,500.
 
In the first instance, the FRSB refers complaints to the member charity to sort out. If the complainant is not satisfied, it will step in and mediate. If mediation is not effective, the FRSB will adjudicate.

During 2008, 26,349 complaints were made to FRSB member charities.  Of these, 20 required mediation by the regulator and one, relating to a Unicef campaign insert, required an adjudication – only the second adjudication in the organisation’s two-year history.

Colin Lloyd is chair; Alistair McLean is chief executive.