The Institute of Fundraising has called for the Code of Fundraising Practice to allow for “greater flexibility” in the wording of solicitation statements, as part of its consultation submission.
The IoF said that the proposed changes to the Code of Fundraising Practice in regards to solicitation statements put forward by the Fundraising Regulator did not address concerns around making clear to donors “who is soliciting the donation” and whether or not “the person seeking a donation is a professional fundraiser”.
The reason for this, according to the IoF, was “because the proposed changes focus specifically on when this statement is made, rather than what is included in the statement – those concerns are already addressed by the legislation”.
Instead, the fundraising membership body suggested a revised wording: “In all cases, the disclosure (or solicitation) statement MUST be made at any time before money is given by the donor or before any personal financial details relevant to the transaction are requested by the fundraiser (whichever is sooner).”
This wording offered “the fundraiser flexibility to use their experience, expertise and judgement to disclose the relevant information at the most appropriate point depending on the specific conversation while ensuring that donors are able to make an informed decision,” according to the IoF’s submission.
Number of fundraising asks ‘red herring’ in public pressure
The IoF also said that it considered focusing on the number of fundraising asks “can be a red herring as the key factor should be placing the emphasis on the manner in which any financial ask is made”.
It said that the Fundraising Regulator’s proposed placing of a “narrower focus on financial asks”, particularly in relation to telephone fundraising calls, would not alone “sufficiently protect members of the public from undue pressure”.
The IoF also said that the Fundraising Regulator should be wary of creating “confusion or unintended consequences” as a result of any changes to the Code it would make in relation to limiting the number of fundraising asks.
The fundraising membership body also called for further clarification about how the Fundraising Regulator would adjudicate cases stemming from complaints from the public of being put under ‘undue pressure’ to donate.
Further consideration and guidance to ‘clarify new requirements’
As part of its general response, the IoF also said that the regulator needed to provide “further guidance or resources” to clarify any new requirements in the Code of Fundraising Consultation.
The IoF also said that thought should be given to an “appropriate transition time” alongside any Code changes.
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“Thought and consideration needs to be given to appropriate transition times to be introduced alongside any changes to the Code, as well as the production of any further guidance or resources which are needed to explain or clarify new requirements.
“We have heard from some members that without acknowledgement of this within the consultation it made it harder to answer the questions fully as they were unsure as to how changes would be implemented. Once decisions have been made on the outcome of the Code consultation, we would be happy.”
The consultation period for the Code of Fundraising Practice closes today.
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