Giving Safely to Support Ukraine - Advice for Those Wishing to Donate
The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator are advising the public to give safely to registered charities and to be wary of the responsibility that arises when setting up informal fundraising appeals.
In response to the ongoing devastation in Ukraine there has been an outpouring of support from across the globe with many of us looking to help the country and its refugees in any way we can.
A recent press release from the Charity Commission highlights what to consider when you are donating to a cause, and how to ensure that you are giving safely.
Donations to Registered Charities
The press release highlights that a donation made to a registered charity will be accounted for in line with charity law, and established charities with experience of disaster response will usually be best placed to reach victims.
You can check if a charity is registered here.
There will be many registered charities who provide aid and services to Ukraine and The Disasters Emergency Committee is a group of 15 leading UK charities who are appealing to provide emergency aid and relief to civilians affected by the humanitarian crisis.
Check Before You Give
The regulators suggest taking these steps before making a donation to causes for Ukraine, in order to ensure that you are giving safely:
- Check the charity's name and registration number. You can use the search function of the Charity Commission website to find all registered charities and to identify charities by region or country.
- Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
- Be careful when responding to emails or clicking links within them.
- Find out more about the charity that you're seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they spend their funds.
- Look out for the Fundraising Badge on charity fundraising materials - this shows that a charity has committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Non-Charity Fundraising Appeals
As the disaster continues to unfold, more and more fundraising appeals and local endeavours will be set up across our communities. Raising money through non-charity related informal fundraising appeals brings with it certain risks associated with overseeing, managing and applying the funds.
It is also worth bearing in mind that donations to charities made by eligible UK taxpayers can be increased by 25% using Gift Aid. Donations to non-charities can't be increased in the same way.
If you have any questions about safe giving or setting up a charity, please contact Chris Knight in our Charities team on 07468 698 954, or complete the form below.