The Institute for Fundraising has called on the government and opposition parties to commit to promoting fundraising in their upcoming election manifestos through a three-point action plan.

Focusing on the areas of gift aid, investment in fundraising skills and legacies, the Institute hopes that implementation of such measures will provide the third sector with an “enormous boost” during any difficult times that may lie ahead.

In response to the prolonged progress of gift aid reform, the Institute is asking that the parties show true commitment to reform. While reforms are threshed out by whichever party wins government, the body is calling for the extension of transitional relief beyond the original April 2011 end point.

The fundraising body also wants the next ruling party to invest in fundraising skills and learning.

“There is documented evidence that there is a shortage of skilled fundraisers,” said Louise Richards, director of policy and campaigns at the Institute. “We feel that the government should recognise the value that fundraisers bring to charities and therefore to beneficiaries. The way to do that would be to put money into training and development for fundraising.

Legacy promotion is at the centre of the Institute’s third manifesto point. The fundraising body wants the government to match the £1m put into legacy promotion by the 151 charity members of the Remember a Charity campaign.

It is hoped that a scheme that sees government match charities’ investment in legacy promotion pound-for-pound could help increase the proportion of bequests in wills from the current level of 7 per cent to 11 per cent, potentially releasing an extra £1bn into charities’ coffers.