The Institute of Fundraising is confident that the revised Bribery Act won’t be a concern to corporate partners attending charity fundraising events, but has sought legal advice to confirm its suspicions after some charities began to get “twitchy” about the interpretation of the Act.

Amanda McLean, chief executive of the Institute, told Civil Society that there is no reason to be concerned that charities themselves might get caught out by the corporate hospitality aspects of the Bribery Act. Rather, she said, some charities had begun to raise concerns that their corporate partners who invite clients to charity events, such as gala dinners, might fall foul of the law which proscribes against offering financial advantage to individuals in order to encourage them to act improperly.

Even as it relates to charities corporate partners, McLean said she personally did not believe the Act would be an issue in relation to fundraising events.

She told Civil Society that she is “not at all concerned about it”, but that the Institute is keen to get advice at the earliest opportunity to put charities – and their corporate partners’ – minds at ease. 

"A couple people were starting to get twitchy," she said. While the Institute is awaiting formal guidance from lawyers, early suggestions from counsel have been that corporate partners will not have to be concerned about the Act.