Cash Handling Code Consultation: Proposal to Include other Financial Donations

Draft Code update to reflect increased diversification of income sources for charities

The Institute’s Handling of Cash Donations Code of Fundraising Practice is going out to public consultation. The draft Code has been updated to, and renamed, the Handing of Cash and Other Financial Donations Code of Fundraising Practice.

The draft Code is being updated to reflect the increased diversification of income sources for charities. It contains sections on cheque donations, the use of debit cards, tax-effective giving and electronic transactions and guidance when using tills.

Specification within the draft Code includes that where children are involved in handling donations, procedures should be in place to safeguard both the child and the donations. There is also detail about how to facilitate a donor’s direct transfer of funds to a charity’s bank account, since this method has recently grown in popularity.

Sarah Tirrell, Policy and Codes of Practice Manager at the Institute of Fundraising, comments:

'Whilst cash donations are widely used by charities, the draft Code reflects the continued importance of donation methods such as cheques.

'Its update means that our guidance keeps in step with other practicalities of contemporary fundraising, including technological advances which have impacted on our sector in the past few years.'

Feed into the consultation before the closing date of 3rd May 2011.

(Source: Institute of Fundraising)