Campaigns

In the context of civil society, campaigns take many guises – they may be fundraising campaigns, awareness-raising campaigns or lobbying campaigns.

The first kind seek to raise money, the second to raise public awareness of an issue, and the third to try to change something.  This last is usually referred to as campaigning.

Campaigning is integral to charities’ ability to get their message across and achieve their vision of a better society.

The key Charity Commission publication on this is issue is CC9 - Speaking Out - Guidance on Campaigning and Political Activity by Charities. (http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc9.asp)

It states: “A charity must be established for a charitable purpose, and as a general principle, charities may undertake campaigning and political activity as a positive way of furthering or supporting their purposes.

Charities have considerable freedom to do so, subject to the law and the terms of their governing documents.

In doing so, charities must be mindful of their independence. Charities, of course, can never engage in any form of party political activity.”