A former director of the Institute of Fundraising has urged the umbrella body to refocus its attention on smaller charities and clarify its values, and has said it should carry out an urgent review of public fundraising.
Stephen Lee, professor of voluntary sector management at Cass Centre for Charity Excellence and former director of the IoF, was speaking at Cass last night.
He said the IoF should be “less concerned with large fundraising organisations” and “more concerned with the individuals and with donors”.
Lee acknowledged that there had been changes in the regulatory landscape for fundraising, which has seen the creation of a new regulator, and seen the Public Fundraising Assoication merge into the IoF. But he said that “we still need to sort out the IoF”.
He said that he struggled to find the IoF’s values on its website and that for the umbrella body to be able to “challenge the Fundraising Regulator and the Information Commissioner’s Office” it needs to be “clear about our values and standards”.
Review of public fundraising
Lee also called for a “full and frank” review of public fundraising to find an “acceptable, equitable, justifiable system of public fundraising for donors, beneficiaries and charities”.
He suggested it was a problem that fundraising has been associated with direct marketing when “most fundraising was still cash based”.
“We need this review urgently,” he said.
Lee urged the fundraising sector get behind the Fundraising Regulator and support introduction of the Fundraising Preference Service. He said that continued criticism from consultants and suppliers was unhelpful.
He also called for “more rigorous research” to supplement anecdotal and qualitative studies.
‘I don’t recognise the picture of evil big charities’
Amanda Bringans, chair elect of the IoF, was in the audience and responded in a personal capacity.
“I know that Stephen holds very passionate views about the IoF,” she said, and thanked him for his comments. “Feedback is how we get better. If I am elected I hope we can continue that dialogue.”
But she added that: “I am very proud to be a fundraiser and member of the institute. We don’t always get everything right but I don’t recognise the picture of evil big charities.”
Bringans also said that fundraisers were keen to change.
“I just wanted to say how difficult the last couple of years have been. I don’t hear anybody saying ‘I don’t want to change, I don’t want to do better’,” she said.
An IoF spokesman added: "There will always be debate and discussion about our sector. As the IoF we are continuing our work to champion and support all of our amazing members, and to promote excellent fundraising. We are very proud of the fundraising community, the role we play as the IoF, and of our growing network of vibrant groups in every region and nation in the country. Given the issues the sector has faced in recent years, the work of the IoF and our members has never been more important."
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