FUNDRAISING POLICY

FUNDRAISING POLICY
INTRODUCTION
Devon Communities Together (DCT) is committed to ensuring that fundraising activities
are carried out in an ethical manner. We are committed to the highest standards of good
practice throughout our fundraising activity to ensure we retain the trust and goodwill of
the community. Fundraising activity is regulated by charity law and other legislation
including trading standards, taxation and gambling and DCT will ensure that all its
fundraising activity complies with the relevant legislation, regulation and codes of
practice.
This policy applies to the Board, permanent and contract staff and volunteers.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to make explicit DCT’s position on fundraising and
to document the standards expected in raising funds from the community.
FUNDRAISING STANDARDS
At all times DCT will adhere to the following standards:
• Fundraising activities carried out by DCT will comply with all relevant legislation
and regulation and will adhere to the standards of the Institute of Fundraising.
• Any communications to the public, made in the course of carrying out a fundraising
activity, shall be truthful, open and transparent, particularly in relation to the
costs of any fundraising activity. A record of all such communications will be
maintained by DCT.
• All monies raised via fundraising activities will be for the purpose stated and will
comply with the organisation’s mission and purpose. A reasonable administration
fee may be deducted from monies raised and where such fees are deducted these
will be published in all relevant communications.
• All personal information collected by DCT complies with the Data Protection Act &
GDPR, is treated as confidential and is not for sale or to be given away or disclosed
to any third party without the consent of the individual concerned.
• Nobody directly or indirectly employed by or volunteering for DCT shall accept
commissions, bonuses, gifts or payments from external parties for fundraising
activities on behalf of the organisation.
• DCT will not solicit funds by ‘cold calling’ either by telephone or door-to-door.
• Fundraising activities will not be undertaken if they may be detrimental to
the good name or community standing of DCT.
• The Board reserves the right to refuse donations where the Board believes the
donation may not be an appropriate fit with the mission, charitable objectives
and values of the organisation.

AUTHORISATION
All fundraising programmes, (appeals, legacies, Friends and Membership campaigns, Online
Fundraising, arrangements with professional fundraisers and commercial partners)
will require the approval of the Board, on the recommendation of the Enterprise,
Marketing and Communications Committee.
The Board in making its decision will consider the fit with DCT mission and
charitable objectives, the financial and reputational risks.
The Board delegates to the Chief Executive authority to approve small-scale fundraising
which meet all legal requirements and the requirements of this policy e.g. a member of
staff or volunteer who offers to raise money for DCT through a sponsored event. All such
fundraising activity will be reported to the Enterprise Marketing and Communications
Committee.
PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISERS AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERS
DCT may from time to time choose to appoint a professional fundraiser or to work with a
commercial partner (known as a commercial participator) having satisfied themselves
that DCT is receiving a full and fair return from any such arrangement.
Where the Board enters into any such arrangement the following will apply:
• A written agreement in place signed by all parties
• Disclosure of all fees etc.
• For commercial partnerships the percentage or precise amount that will be paid
by the commercial participator to DCT
ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE
All monies raised will be paid in to a DCT bank account before deduction of expenses and
shown in the accounts as a gross amount, with deductions of costs and fees shown as
separate expenditure.
Where appropriate the opportunity to maximise donations should be undertaken e.g.
via the Gift Aid scheme.
Where a significant donation is received from a donor not known to DCT or in
circumstances which raise concerns DCT reserves the right to make further enquiries
before accepting the donation or may refuse the donations if satisfactory replies are not
received to enquiries.
In the event that there is a suspicion that the donation may be facilitating money
laundering or criminal activity DCT is obligated under the Charity Commission’s
guidance ‘Reporting Serious Incidents’ to contact the Police and the Charity Commission
and disclose the donation.
ACCEPTING DONATIONS WITH CONDITIONS ATTACHED
From time to time a donor may offer a donation with conditions attached. Before
accepting any such donation DCT will consider whether the condition(s) are compatible
with the purposes, priorities and activities of DCT. At all times DCT’s policy is that the
condition(s) of any donation should not undermine the independence of the
organisation. DCT therefore reserves the right to refuse any donation whose condition(s)
is not compatible with the ethos of the organisation or would undermine the
independence of the board or the organisation.
COMPLAINTS
DCT has a robust complaints process, which is overseen by the Service Delivery Lead.
DCT is committed to investigating all complaints thoroughly. Where we have fallen short
we will apologise and seek to put matters right as quickly as possible.
We recognise that not every complainant will be satisfied with our response and may wish
to seek an independent body to investigate their complaint. DCT may therefore refer the
complaint to the Fundraising Standards Board which is able to make an independent
determination.
The Charity Commission may become involved in a complaint about fundraising where it
perceives that public trust and confidence is being damaged through the fundraising
activities. The focus for such activity is limited to ensuring that the funds raised are used
for charitable purposes and have not been misappropriated.