Virgin Money Giving has become one of the first major fundraising sites to back the Code of Fundraising Practice
An online fundraising platform has backed new fundraising guidelines.
Virgin Money Giving, the UK’s largest not-for-profit fundraising platform, this week confirmed its intention to sign up to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice. As a result, the service will be among the first major fundraising platforms to sign up to the code.
The Code of Fundraising Practice outlines the standards expected of all charitable fundraising organisations across the UK.
In addition, Virgin Money Giving has also begun the roll-out of its new ‘Donor Covers Fee’ feature which will give donors the opportunity to cover the flat 2% transaction fee which charities are charged to use the site. The new feature is initially available to 10 major charity partners and will be rolled out to all Virgin Money Giving’s charity partners by the end of the year.
More than 14,500 charities have registered with Virgin Money Giving and, by the end of June 2018, more than £660 million had been donated to charities through the service since its launch in 2009, resulting in an estimated £20.6 million more being donated to charities because of its not-for-profit model.
Gerald Oppenheim, chief executive at the Fundraising Regulator said: “The purpose of the new code and guidance for fundraising platforms is to ensure they work to the highest fundraising standards and make sure the public are clear about where their donation is going. By confirming that it intends to sign up to the Fundraising Code, Virgin Money Giving is sending a powerful message to both fundraisers and donors about its commitment to good fundraising and operating to the highest standards.”
Jo Barnett, executive director at Virgin Money Giving said: “We are delighted to become one of the first major fundraising platforms to sign up to the Fundraising Code of Practice. We believe it is an important commitment at a time when the sector is being scrutinised and some practices are being called into question. As one of the leading brands in the sector, it is important to take the lead and make sure that charities and fundraisers understand our commitment to continue to operate at the highest standards.”
