The Institute of Fundraising said that the total number of recorded infractions by street fundraisers fell by 62 per cent this year compared to last, down to 17 a month from 38 the year before.
In its half-year figures on street fundraising compliance released today, the IoF’s compliance directorate said that of the over 2,000 undercover ‘mystery shops’ it undertook in 2016, infractions by street fundraisers of the rules in the Street Fundraising Rulebook fell by 62 per cent.
The biggest improvement in terms of reduced infractions was seen this year in terms of non-disclosure of solicitation statements, which fell from a monthly average in 2015/16 of 13.4 to 3.5 in 2016/17 – a decrease of 74 per cent.
According to a copy of the former PFRA’s key performance indicators, seen by Civil Society Media, infractions around the ‘3 step rule’ and ‘Proximity to street features’ also more than halved in the last 12-months.
A number of rules also saw zero reported breaches – including wearing clearly branded charity clothing, and approaching members of the public while they work, or sit in cafes and restaurants.
The biggest increase in terms of infractions were found in street fundraisers leaving ‘unattended bags’ in public – with an average of 4.3 infractions of this nature being reported, up from 3.2 the previous year.
Peter Hills-Jones, compliance director at the IoF and former chief executive of the Public Fundraising Association, said: “We have worked tirelessly with our members over the last 2 years to ensure high standards are at the core of what it means to be a good fundraiser.
“They have clearly stepped up to that challenge and I congratulate everyone who has contributed to this huge improvement, it is proof that self-regulation can be effective. Charities and their agency partners, if they’re members of the IoF, are making a strong commitment to high quality and sustainable fundraising.”
Stephen Dunmore, interim chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator also welcomed the figures. “Better practice by charities and the agencies that work for them, treating donors with respect, will encourage trust and confidence when the public is asked by street fundraisers to consider donating,” he said.
Consultation on accreditation for street fundraisers to open ‘before Christmas’
The IoF also today announced that it will be opening a consultation with its members regarding a new street fundraising accreditation programme, which will “be launched before Christmas”.
The IoF said that accreditation for street fundraisers would be “a strong signal to the public that charities are committed to high standards”.
It also said it would be consulting with members on “establishing a permanent mystery shopping programme for private site fundraising”, following a “successful pilot programme for private site fundraisers” it conducted this year.
A spokeswoman for the IoF said that no concrete date for the consultation’s launch has yet been decided but reiterated it would be before the end of the year.
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