The Institute of Fundraising and the Small Charities Coalition has announced a joint initiative to “engage smaller charities” over fundraising reforms after protests that they were excluded from a summit meeting.
The IoF and the SCC said, in a statement released today, that the new initiative would seek to address concerns amongst smaller charities that their voice was not being heard in the ongoing debate about fundraising self-regulation reform ahead of the fundraising summit in December.
The IoF and the Small Charities Coalition will launch “an online survey” on small charities' views on the Etherington Review recommendations and will also hold a forum to “discuss issues and priorities” at some point after the 4 December fundraising summit.
A spokesman for the IoF said that it was the “hope” of the two organisations that the outcomes of this initiative will be taken on board by “the new regulator and the working groups,” as well as by NCVO and the office for civil society.
The spokesman also said that the initiative has come into being “in the last few weeks”.
Daniel Fluskey, head of policy and research at the IoF (pictured) said: “Smaller charities make up a huge proportion of the sector.
“The IoF's individual membership of 5,500 fundraisers come from 2,500 organisations across the UK and it is vital that we work to support, understand and represent their views, concerns and ideas.
"By highlighting the recommendations and priorities from smaller charities we can ensure that the new system being formed works best for all fundraising organisations."
John Barrett, interim chief executive of the Small Charities Coalition, said: “There are over 150,000 small charities registered in England and Wales and over 600,000 micro charities too small to register.
“These are charities that have an annual turnover of under £1m and make up the overwhelming majority of the UK charity sector.
"Therefore it is important that any new system of fundraising regulation is fair and proportionate to their methods and resources.”
According to the statement “people can register their interest in this work, or share their views” by emailing the IoF.
