Following the controversy surrounding the death of charity supporter Olive Cooke, Friends of the Earth started a conversation with donors about charity communications. Joe Jenkins says it’s just the first, vital step on a long journey.

“Do you think this might affect us?” I’m sure I was not alone among fundraising directors in hearing this question from trustees and senior colleagues in the wake of the Olive Cooke story. While a small handful of charities were named at the time, and in subsequent tabloid exposés, the vast majority of us were not linked directly to the stories. So should we just hunker down and hope for the storm to pass?