Friday 7 October 2011

New Code of Fundraising Practice Launched


The Handling of Cash and Other Financial Donations Code of Fundraising Practice has been launched today. The Code contains general guidance which applies to the handling of many different types of donation and is a crucial addition to fundraisers’ best practice procedure.
The Code is intended to raise awareness of the areas fundraising organisations need to consider when handling donations; organisations ought to use the Code to guide them in producing their own procedures and requirements.
The Code states that donation handling guidance is important for three major reasons. These are to protect the organisation from fraud, theft or embezzlement; protect staff or volunteers from accusations of dishonesty or the temptation to commit fraud, and to assure donors that their donations and gifts are used for the purpose for which they were given.
The Code is comprehensive guidance which includes detail around the use of debit cards, tax-effective giving and processing donations using tills; as well as handling cash and accepting donations by cheque. It replaces the existing Handling of Cash Donations Code of Fundraising Practice.
Sarah Tirrell, Policy and Codes of Practice Manager at the Institute of Fundraising, comments:
“As fundraisers, we know that donations don’t begin and end with cash, although this remains an important means by which people give to charity. The IoF’s recent campaign to ‘save our cheque’ illustrates the importance of the diverse donation methods which exist; and this new Code also shows the variety of ways in which donors now support charity. We’re keen to ensure our guidance continues to follow giving trends as closely as possible.”
(Source:  Institute of Fundraising)

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