Look out for the Fundraising Badge
There are lots of things that you wouldn't buy without having a good look at first. When it comes to donating to charity, the thing to look out for is the Fundraising Badge – the logo that says, ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’.
The badge means that whichever organisation you’re donating to has committed to legal, open, honest and respectful fundraising.
What does the Fundraising Badge mean?
The Fundraising Badge is the logo that says, ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’. The badge means that whichever organisation you’re donating to has committed to legal, open, honest and respectful fundraising.
This is because when an organisation registers with the Fundraising Regulator it commits to fundraising in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice – the UK’s charitable fundraising standards.
The Fundraising Regulator is the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Find out more about us.
Visit our online directory
Visit our online Directory to check whether an organisation has committed to excellent fundraising practice by registering with the Fundraising Regulator.
Where can I find the badge?
Organisations which are registered with us can display the badge on their fundraising materials. This includes:
- donation pages on a charity’s website or adverts on the internet
- charity social media posts about fundraising
- adverts in magazines, on billboards, on tv or on the bus or train
- letters, envelopes or charity bags sent to your address; and
- collection buckets or direct debit sign-up forms used by people who come to your door or who are fundraising on the street.
Tips for giving safely to charity
Although most fundraising is genuine, sadly there are fraudsters who seek to take advantage of people’s good will. Looking for the Fundraising Badge is one of the ways you can make sure you give safely to genuine causes.
What if I can't see the badge?
Charities display the badge on their fundraising materials to show their commitment to excellent fundraising. You may not see the badge on communications that aren't about fundraising such as brochures, information packs or webpages that do not include an ask for donations.
If you can’t see the badge, you can still search our Directory to check whether an organisation has registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
You can also follow our tips for giving safely to charity for other signs to look out for when donating.
What about in Scotland?
You might see the Fundraising Badge in Scotland because we regulate fundraising in Scotland by charities where the lead regulator is the Charity Commission for England and Wales or Northern Ireland. Find out more about our role in Scotland.
Scottish registered charities can sign up for the Fundraising Guarantee, managed by the Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel.