# FRSB to tackle poor fundraising practice among non-member charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/12/frsb-tackle-poor-fundraising-practice-among-nonmember-charities/
- Published: 2009-07-12T19:52:55+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/Fundraising_standards_board_200_1247428348.
gif)

The Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) is considering how it can best address the
issue of non-member charities which demonstrate poor fundraising practice which 
reflects badly on its members and the sector as a whole.

The debate took place at the last FRSB Board meeting on 2 July 2009. It did not,
as reported and blogged about elsewhere, decide to adjudicate on complaints about
non-members’ fundraising activities.

The FRSB regulates its 1,078 members’ fundraising practice, and addresses those 
that have demonstrated standards of fundraising that are not compatible with the
FRSB’s Fundraising Promise or the Institute of Fundraising’s Codes of Fundraising
Practice directly.

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Since its formation, it has of course received complaints about fundraising involving
non-members. The Board now feels that it should consider playing a wider role in
highlighting issues around poor fundraising practice amongst such non-members, if
only to protect the reputation of its members.

The issue has been raised by the recently formed FRSB Advisory Forum: some members
report feeling more and more frustrated that their work and the high standards in
fundraising that they follow are being undermined by instances of poor practice 
beyond the membership.

However, the Board has made it clear that its adjudications and official three-step
complaint procedure will apply only to FRSB members.

Alistair McLean, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Standards Board, said: “We believe
that poor fundraising practice constitutes a reputational risk to our member charities–
those who commit to and perform the highest standards of fundraising practice – 
and to the sector at large.

“We hope that by addressing those organisations that practice fundraising in this
way, we will encourage them to join with the rest of our membership in seeking to
both set and maintain the highest standards in fundraising. In so doing, we are 
seeking to protect the long-term reputation of charity fundraising.”

www.frsb.org.uk

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