The Fundraising Regulator has reduced the annual cost of running the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) to less than £150,000.
Reducing the cost of the service, which lets people block specific charities from contacting them, was one of the key recommendations from an independent review in 2020.
In its annual report for the year to August 2021, published last week, the Fundraising Regulator said: “We are pleased to report that we have made savings for operating the FPS, which reduces the cost by 42.5%, from £260,000 to £148,000 per year.
“We are also working on further technical developments to the FPS website following the review, which will be implemented in 2022.”
A spokesperson told Civil Society News that the saving was achieved by a “reduction of the supplier contract costs”.
In 2020-21 2,275 people used the FPS, up from 1,971 the previous year. 752 charities received a suppression request during the year.
98% levy payment rate
The Fundraising Regulator achieved its highest rate of levy payment, with 98% of those asked to make the voluntary contribution doing so.
During the reporting period, 1,974 eligible fundraising organisations contributed a total of £2.17m to the levy. The regulator’s total income was £2.4m and it spent £2m on regulatory activity.
The Fundraising Regulator also reported a 26% increase in smaller charity registrations with 2,842 now participating. Some 159 commercial organisations are also registered.
Lord Toby Harris, chair of the Fundraising Regulator, said: “After another uncertain year which brought continued challenges for the charitable fundraising sector, I commend the hard work of charities and fundraisers, many of whom adapted their fundraising activity to fundraise safely and responsibly.
“The sector has shown its continued commitment to self-regulation, demonstrated by an increase in registrations with us, and the highest rate of payment yet of the Fundraising Levy. We look forward to continued collaboration with the sector as we enter our new reporting year.”
The Fundraising Regulator will present its future plans at its annual event on 1 March 2022.
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