February 2024
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on key issues and next steps for charities in the UK.
Stakeholders and policymakers discussed key issues including fundraising and new regulation, data protection, and operational challenges in the face of heightened demand and pressures surrounding the cost of living.
As the Fundraising Regulator consults on proposed changes to the Code of Fundraising Practice, delegates considered these potential amendments and what will be needed for an effective regulatory framework moving forward. Areas for discussion included the expansion of the code and amendments to its existing rules, moving to a principles-based framework, and rules for when the Fundraising Regulator is not the lead regulator.
Further sessions assessed what changes in data protection regulation mean for charities, including opportunities for innovation, as the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill continues its passage through Parliament.
Sessions discussed what provisions in the Bill could mean for fundraising and relationships with donors in areas such as supporter recruitment, email communications and website engagement, as well as proposals to limit the use of data pools for ongoing projects.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Gerald Oppenheim, Chief Executive, Fundraising Regulator; and Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive, RSPCA.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- cost of living concerns: understanding the role of charities - priorities for service development and improving resilience - assessing and adapting to societal trends and the changing needs of service users
- future regulation of charities: reviewing the Code of Fundraising Practice - expanding the code and amending existing rules - ensuring the regulatory framework is fit for purpose
- Data Protection and Digital Information Bill:
- assessing the impact of the Bill’s proposals on supporter consent and safety online
- strategies for responsibly utilising the expanded scope of legitimate interest to digitally build support for charities
- best practice for new soft opt-in options for non-commercial charities
- financial and operational challenges:
- next steps for addressing increased service demand, including staffing and fundraising issues, as well as loss of headquarters
- widening support for smaller third sector organisations and tackling disparities between large and small charities
- fundraising and income: diversifying and innovating revenue streams for charities - grants and investment - opportunities for new methods of payment, including cryptocurrency - regulation in this area
- workforce wellbeing: promoting staff mental health and wellbeing - tackling burnout - priorities for addressing volunteer and staffing shortages - the way forward for innovation
- diversity, inclusion and recruitment: addressing the gender pay gap in the third sector - opportunities for increasing inclusivity within charities, including for people with disabilities - best governance practices
- modernising fundraising: the potential for applying AI in campaigning and fundraising - opportunities and risks of using social media to build support
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DLUHC; ICO; NAO; NCSC; and Ofcom.
