# Charity Commission advises on Myanmar/Burma disaster appeals

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/05/12/charity-commission-advises-myanmarburma-disaster-appeals/
- Published: 2008-05-12T09:39:19+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Charity Commission has published advice online about how the public and charities
can maximise the amount being raised for the disaster appeals set up in response
to the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma).**

Advice to the public includes making sure they give via Gift Aid, don’t automatically
donate blankets and clothes which might not be needed, and “be suspicious of someone
who says they’re collecting for ‘victims of the cyclone’ or something equally vague”.

Charities are advised to check their charitable objects to make sure they are permitted
to collect or handle money for this area of activity. If running an appeal they 
should set an end date and plan for possible surplus funds and how they would distribute
them.

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The advice includes links to other guidelines on fundraising on the Charity Commission’s
website, including the Attorney General’s guidelines on disaster appeals (CC40).

Andrew Hind, the Commission’s Chief Executive, said: “The £390 million given to 
the Disasters Emergency Committee in the wake of the 2004 Tsunami showed we are 
a nation of givers. Now the people of Burma desperately need our help. We want people
to give and we’ve offered some helpful tips on how to maximise the money raised.”

www.charitycommission.gov.uk/news/burma.asp

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