Navigating the New Fundraising Code of Practice: What Your Organisation Needs to Know

A significant update is coming for all charities and community organizations across the UK involved in fundraising. A new Code of Fundraising Practice will come into effect on 1^st November 2025, replacing the 2019 version. From May to November, an Implementation Period has come in to place.

Released by the Fundraising Regulator, this updated code aims to provide a clearer, more flexible, and modern framework for ethical and effective fundraising for all organisations that fundraise, regardless of whether they are registered with the Regulator. The goal is to ensure fundraising is legal, open, honest, and respectful, thereby maintaining public trust and confidence in the sector. Failure to adhere to the Code can lead to investigations by the Fundraising Regulator and potential reputational damage for your organisation.

Key changes in the new Code from November 2025:

Principles-Based Approach: Moving away from detailed rules, the new code adopts a framework built on core principles. This shift requires fundraisers to exercise sound judgment while upholding overarching standards of legality, openness, honesty, and respect. This flexibility could be particularly beneficial for smaller organisations allowing for more agile and innovative fundraising methods. However, all organisations, regardless of size, will need to ensure their staff and volunteers understand and can apply these principles effectively.

Streamlined and Accessible: The revised code is significantly shorter and features improved signposting to relevant legal requirements and external guidance. This enhanced clarity aims to make the code more accessible, particularly for smaller organisations with fewer resources dedicated to compliance and for individuals new to fundraising.

Stronger Emphasis on Fundraiser Protection: The new code places a greater focus on safeguarding those involved in fundraising activities. Charities must take reasonable steps to protect fundraisers from harm and harassment and establish clear mechanisms for reporting concerns and providing support. This is crucial for all organisations to ensure the well-being of their fundraising teams, whether they are staff or volunteers. This applies to all types of fundraising including door-to-door, street and events.

Revised Guidance on Paying Fundraisers: The previous restrictions on commission-based pay have been replaced with an emphasis on “appropriate consideration” of payment approaches, ensuring they align with the organisation’s values. This change will require all charities to carefully consider and justify their payment structures for fundraisers. Organisations should carefully consider that this applies to all fundraising, including digital fundraising such as paid working with Influencers or Ambassadors.

Reinforced Transparency and Fair Treatment: The updated code underscores the importance of transparent and non-misleading fundraising practices. Organisations must provide accurate and clear information to potential donors, ensuring they understand how their contributions will be used. This is a fundamental requirement for maintaining public trust for all charities.

New Guidance for Evolving Donation Methods: Reflecting modern giving trends, the code now includes specific guidance on unstaffed collection boxes and convenience giving methods, ensuring clear information for donors across all types of organisations utilizing these methods. It also includes a section addressing the responsibilities of online fundraising platforms, requiring them to adhere to the Fundraising Regulator’s guidance.

Continued Focus on Due Diligence in Partnerships: The need for thorough due diligence when collaborating with third-party fundraisers and commercial participators remains a key aspect, vital for protecting the reputation of all charities, especially those with numerous external partnerships.

Importance of Documenting Decisions: Organisations are encouraged to document their fundraising decisions and the reasoning behind them, particularly when applying the principles-based rules. This practice will be important for all charities in demonstrating compliance and sound governance.

Preparing for the new Code:

The Fundraising Regulator has provided a six-month transition period (May to November 2025) to allow organisations to prepare.

Key steps for all charities and community organisations include:

Review the New Code: Familiarise trustees, staff, and volunteers with the new Code.
Update Policies and Procedures: Review and update internal fundraising policies and procedures to align with the new principles and specific requirements.
Provide Training: Ensure all staff and volunteers involved in fundraising receive adequate training on the new code and its implications for their roles.
Strengthen Oversight: Trustees should actively engage with the changes and ensure robust oversight of fundraising activities to maintain compliance.
Utilise Available Resources: The Fundraising Regulator will be providing support guides and webinars to help organisations understand and implement the new code.

The upcoming Code of Fundraising Practice signifies a crucial step in ensuring ethical and effective fundraising across the UK’s charity and community sector. By understanding and proactively preparing for these changes, all organisations can continue to build trust with the public and effectively pursue their vital missions.

To find out more about the new Code please visit the Fundraising Regulator website.