The Code of Fundraising Practice has been updated following consultation earlier this year.
It stresses the need for compliance with the legal requirements of the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This applies to organisations carrying out telephone fundraising.
Changes include a short guide to compliance with TPS. This can help ensure fundraisers understand their responsibilities. In addition, telephone fundraising agencies are now no longer required to hold TPS Assured certification.
"Charities and agencies need to be able to evidence their compliance with TPS and take a risk-based approach to how they audit their practices."
Policy Manager Stephen Service said: “We have listened carefully to feedback from telephone agencies and charities on this rule following its introduction in 2015. It’s clear that obtaining TPS assured certification has been a useful and appropriate step for some organisations. However, it has proven disproportionately burdensome for others.
“The key point is that there is no ’one-size-fits-all’ where monitoring is concerned. Charities and agencies need to be able to evidence their compliance with TPS and take a risk-based approach to how they audit their practices. This should be based on the scale of their fundraising campaigns and the methods used.”
The Code previously stated that telephone fundraising agencies “must have up to date TPS Assured certification”. This now emphasises the need to evidence compliance with TPS legal requirements.
Tamsin Mitchell, Compliance Manager for Telephone Fundraising at the Institute of Fundraising said: “This is a very welcome change to the Code and makes it clear that all organisations carrying out telephone fundraising must ensure and evidence their compliance with the legal obligations regarding the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The quick guide provides a very clear reference point making it easy to follow the TPS requirements.”
“The change also gives organisations the flexibility to decide how they will record and demonstrate their compliance. This sensible and practical approach by the Fundraising Regulator should remove any previously held concerns or difficulties in complying with both the Code and GDPR.”