A new report suggests the main fundraising bodies can still do more to work together and should consider merging some funcations
The Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority (PFRA) should become part of the Institute of Fundraising (IoF), according to a new report.
Jointly commissioned by the IoF, PFRA and the Fundraising Standards Board, a report from PwC (formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers) says the three organisations should also consider sharing elements of their operations, such as back-office functions, in a bid to save costs and improve communication with each another.
The report is based on an earlier government review of fundraising regulation which looked into how the three fundraising bodies in the UK worked together.
The PwC report says: “The PFRA would, in time, need to rebrand and transition its governance structure. In the future, it may be considered to be more efficient to run the PFRA as a department or subsidiary of IoF.”
It could have quite large cost implications because we currently have three separate offices - Peter Hills-Jones
It adds: “Improvements in communication between the three organisations are needed to prevent 'confusion over roles, avoid duplication and present a united front to the public'."
The PFRA should also drop the word regulatory from its name, recommends the report.
However Peter Hills-Jones, head of policy and communications at the PFRA, said while his organisation was looking into the recommendations now wasn’t the time to go through a big structural change.
“It could have quite large cost implications because we currently have three separate offices,” he said.
He added the PFRA had already forged closer links with the IoF, including haveing an IoF representative on the PFRA board.
“We hope that the closer alignment with the IoF in the meantime will meet most of the needs. It’s a case of trying this new model to see how it works and, as we move through to 2017, we’ll be in a position to either point to successes or not – and it will be for parliament to make the final call.”
Another recommendation is that the FRSB takes action against errant members – such as asking the Charity Commission to revoke charitable status if they refuse to comply with the IoF Code of Fundraising Practice.
Alistair McLean, chief executive of the FRSB, said: “We are pleased that PwC has recognised the work already undertaken to raise standards and improve public awareness, and we acknowledge that more can be done."
The report also recommended that the bodies set up an online portal, run by the FRSB as the public-facing regulatory organisation, to provide one point of contact for members of the public and others interested in fundraising self-regulation.
“This would reduce the potential for public and charity confusion over roles and responsibilities,” the report says.
Peter Lewis, chief executive of the IoF, said: "We are committed to continually improving what we do and how we work so that our members, and the wider fundraising community, have the right skills and support to fundraise to the highest standards.
“The recommendations presented to us by PwC give us a blueprint from which we can ensure continued success in the future.
Ian Oakley-Smith, head of charities at PwC, said the key message from the review is to simplify and act as one.
"This will provide both charities and the public with the additional confidence and clarity they will need to maintain effective self-regulation in the sector.”
