The head of the Fundraising Regulator has said “the door remains open" to the RNIB to "discuss their concerns with us rather than engage in media debate", after the charity wrote a letter refusing to fund the regulator.

Stephen Dunmore, interim chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator (pictured), said:

"The RNIB have given a clear public message that they do not support the creation of the Fundraising Regulator and they are not prepared to contribute to our set-up costs. These decisions, since this is voluntary regulation, are of course a matter for them.

"We are committed to working closely with the charitable sector in the public interest to implement the key recommendations of the Etherington Review, and to help improve the donor experience, not least for those who are most vulnerable.

"The door remains open should the RNIB wish to discuss their concerns with us, rather than engage in media debate." 

Dunmore was responding to comments made by Lesley-Anne Alexander, chief executive of RNIB, who told Civil Society News that her charity “opposed the creation of the new regulator” and might not pay the levy to fund it.

Alexander subsequently wrote a letter to the Fundraising Regulator, in which she said she was: “disappointed that it has been deemed necessary to set up a new body to regulate fundraising when our sector is already regulated to an onerous degree”.

“Turning to your request for start-up funding,” wrote Alexander. “I am afraid that I must decline at this time. I have a strong commitment to running RNIB using clear business principles and therefore will need more information before I can consider making such a payment.”

The letter concludes by requesting a “draft business plan (including performance metrics) by which I can measure the success of your organisation,” as well as the regulator’s “plans to communicate with the public regarding the work and funding of the Fundraising Regulator”.

The RNIB’s stance has received support from a number of voluntary sector representatives.