Fundraising Standards Board

The Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) has been the independent regulator for charity fundraising in the UK since 2007. However following media scrutiny of charity fundraising throughout 2015 the Office for Civil Society, the UK government department with responsibility for charities, commissioned the Etherington Review of charitable fundraising regulation, which led to a decision to create a new Fundraising Regulator. The FRSB has committed to support the conclusions of the review, and the chair of the new regulator has said it will take over fundraising regulation by the end of 2016.

The FRSB was launched as a self-regulatory scheme, with the onus on charities and fundraising suppliers to opt into market regulation through the FRSB. Member organisations made a commitment to the 'Fundraising Promise', to adhere to the highest standards of fundraising practice and to being transparent and accountable in their fundraising.

The FRSB regulates fundraising practice against industry standards, monitoring complaints about charity fundraising and working to resolve issues between the public and fundraisers. Complaints are escalated through a formal three step process. It publishes an annual fundraising complaints report. In addition,any adjudications on charities' failure to adhere to its codes are published at the FRSB's website.

Registered as a Community Interest Company (No 5842626), the FRSB is headed up by chief executive Alistair McLean, and chair Andrew Hind.

Charity fundraising is widespread and varied. Professionals and volunteers employ a wide range of techniques to raise funds for charitable causes. Fundraising is a key source of income for many charities; for some, it is their sole income generator. It is estimated that there are around 45,000 fundraising charities in the UK. Together they raise more than £11 billion in voluntary income each year.

The Charities Act 2006 prescribed the establishment of a new self-regulatory framework for charity fundraising. In February 2007, a new body - the Fundraising Standards Board - was launched, tasked with regulating charity fundraising in line with industry standards (the Institute of Fundraising's Code of Fundraising Practice. Backed by the Office for Civil Society, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Welsh Assembly Government.

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