Our governance

• The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting that was held in the Fundraising Regulator’s new offices for the first time. The Chair welcomed Anne Heal, Nick Jones and Girish Menon, who were attending the meeting as observers before formally joining the board in April 2025.
• The board were updated on recent meetings that had taken place with the Civil Society Minister and the Shadow Secretary of State as well as the Chair and Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The board also discussed other meetings with Govt Departments that had occurred in the last quarter and noted the Fundraising Regulators response to the Covenant consultation.
• The Board noted the Data (Use and Access) Bill would soon complete its passage through Parliament. Charities would be able to use soft opt-in as a result and the board noted that guidance would be produced on its use for fundraising and charity marketing.
• The board noted the financial position, and the strong performance of the levy despite the fee changes that were implemented in September 2024. The board approved the draft Annual Report and Accounts and discussed the Management Letter.
• The board agreed the proposed changes to the Code of Fundraising Practise, and noted the huge amount of work that had gone into the new draft. The board thanked all of the staff and Standards Committee and other board members who had worked so tirelessly on it. The board also thanked the sector for the engaged contributions they had made across both consultations and the initial call for information.  The board noted that the next steps were to get Plain English accreditation for the new Code before it was published later in the spring. Once published there will be an agreed 6 month period before it is implemented.
• The board were updated on progress of the proactive regulation workstream including the ongoing work on sub-contracting. The board discussed the current casework position and were updated on a number of high risk and complex cases.
• The meeting closed with the Chair thanking Jenny Williams, David Cunningham, Sacha Deshmukh and Jill Thomspon for their service to the regulator as this would be their last board meeting.

The board met in person on Thursday 17 October and an observer from the Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel attended online.

• The board were updated on the financial position and that we were working to a deficit budget for the current financial year. Just over 75% of the 2024 levy had been collected and non-payers continued to be chased.
• The board discussed the proposed increases to the non-charity registration fees which would be applied on 1 January 2025.
• The board approved appointment of new committee members which would be announced shortly.
• The board noted that the recruitment for four new Board members was underway and to date had received a positive response.
• The board approved a preferred supplier for the provision of the Fundraising Preference Service for the next three years.
• The board were updated on the Proactive Regulation and Projects function and were given an overview on the current progress of projects. The Executive presented a paper on regulatory gaps and would scope for project work.
• The board were updated on the current code consultation and engagement activities taking place before its close on 1 November 2024.
• The board was updated on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of ongoing improvements and developments.

The board met in person, and an observer from the Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel attended online. 

• The board were updated on the current financial position and accepted the management accounts. Preparation for the 2024-25 levy was underway and invoices would be sent in late August.
• The board noted the non-charity fee proposal had been agreed and the consultation had begun.
• The board reviewed the risk appetite statement and framework.
• The board agreed the 2024-25 annual budget and business plan.
• The board were updated on the proactive regulation and project team’s function and were given an overview on the current progress of projects.
• The board were updated on the redrafting of the code of fundraising practice and were on track to conduct a second consultation in September 2024.
• The board was updated on the Fundraising Preference Service and the continued compliance work.
• The board was updated on the External Committee Member recruitment.

The board met in person, and an observer from the Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel attended online. 

• The board were updated on the strong financial position and that we were working close to the budget. Just over 98% of the 2023-24 levy had been collected and non-payers continued to be chased. Planning had begun for the 2024-25 levy.
• The board were informed of the increase in registrants which had surpassed 6500. 
• The board noted that the Market Inquiry had been published in March 2024.
• The board were updated on the proactive regulation and project team’s function and were given an overview on the current progress of projects. 
• The board were updated on the redrafting of the Code of Fundraising Practice and a second consultation would begin in September 2024.
• The board was updated on the Fundraising Preference Service and the continued compliance work.
• The board was presented feedback from the annual event on 12 March and discussed plans for future events.
• The board was updated on the External Committee Member recruitment which would begin with online information sessions in May 2024.