Andrew Hind was the first chief executive of the Charity Commission and is the current editor of Charity Finance magazine
The newly appointed chair of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) has said his first job is to restore the relationship between fundraisers and donors, which has been damaged following a series of scandals.
Andrew Hind, the former chief executive of the Charity Commission and current editor of Charity Finance magazine, will take up the role at the independent regulator of UK charity fundraising on a three-year fixed-term contract on 16 September.
Hind, who takes over from Colin Lloyd, said good fundraisers are the “lifeblood of UK civil society” but described some recent practices of charities as “unacceptable”.
He said: "Good fundraisers not only raise the income which is the lifeblood of UK civil society, they also help donors to enjoy the experience of supporting a charity and to understand the issues behind the causes concerned.
“However, the events of recent weeks show that the unacceptable fundraising practices of some charities, and the agencies who work for them, has got out of balance with the need to respect the right of the public to say no. That balance now has to be quickly re-established.”
I believe that roles and responsibilities need to be clearer and tougher sanctions need to be applied to those who damage public trust in fundraising
Andrew Hind
Hind added he felt it right that the arrangements for fundraising self-regulation are to be thoroughly reviewed.
“I believe that roles and responsibilities need to be clearer, funding needs to be adequate to do the job properly, and tougher sanctions need to be applied to those who damage public trust in fundraising,” he said.
“I look forward to working with colleagues at the Fundraising Standards Board to ensure we play our full part in implementing whatever new arrangements are introduced for the regulation of fundraising in the future."
Highly respected as an authority on charity governance and regulation with 30 years experience at the heart of civil society, Hind has been editor at Charity Finance since 2011 and, prior to that, from 2004-2010 was the first chief executive of the Charity Commission.
Earlier in his career, he worked in senior management at Barnardo’s and ActionAid, with nine years spent at BBC World Service as chief operating officer.
Following his appointment as FRSB Hind will resign as editor of Charity Finance magazine, although he will remain non-executive director of and strategic adviser to its publishing group, Civil Society Media Limited.
He will also stand down as a non-executive member of the Management Board at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Outgoing chair Colin Lloyd, added: “The sector is now at a cross roads where fundamental change must occur in order to ensure that any sub-standard fundraising is isolated and removed, so that it cannot tarnish the public’s trust and confidence in the amazing work of UK charities and the importance of public donations in funding that work.
"I could not wish for a more able successor to pass on the reins than Andrew Hind and I wish him every success in his future role at the FRSB.”
