# Knowing who to call - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/11/18/knowing-who-call/ - Published: 2009-11-18T10:02:41+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake There is a mind-boggling array of requirements for telephone fundraising as summarised in this week’s telephone fundraising feature by Kaye Wiggins in Third Sector magazine: http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/966747/Charity-fundraising-telephone-call— when/   From the Information Commissioner’s Office to the Direct Marketing Association and the Institute of Fundraising (IOF), so many bodies have powers over telephone fundraising that it can be difficult to know where to go. Which way do you turn for definitive guidance and advice about what you can or can’t do? ## Advertisement   As it stands, charities and suppliers involved in telephone fundraising need to keep on top of legislation produced by each and every one of the regulatory bodies and to best practice guidance set out in the IOF’s Codes. It’s not a small task, but it is the only way to keep on top of the latest guidance. When it comes to regulation, organisations should be going a step further and signing up to the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).   What do you do when advice from one organisation doesn’t necessarily match up with what another is saying? (I’m not saying that the regulatory bodies conflict each other, but there are varying interpretations of the same guidance). For example, charities are clear about the requirements are for handling cold data, but there is widespread confusion around issues such as whether you can call warm contacts who are signed up to the TPS and what constitutes a marketing rather than fundraising call. Plus, with the impending review about the EU data protection Directive (launching in January next year), we need to ensure that we are up to speed with what is happening at a European level and what might be the implications for UK regulation.   These are important issues that can’t just be swept under the carpet. At Relationship Marketing, we issued a call for the leading regulatory bodies (in the UK and EU) to get their heads together and produce a set of clear and comprehensive guidance for telephone fundraising. The FRSB was quick to respond and is setting up a summit as we speak.   For the large part, the sector is doing a great job in raising funds using the phone. But, the fact is that we could be doing it even better if there were complete clarity about what is legally, professionally and morally acceptable in telephone fundraising.   * **[DMA announces new committee to promote responsible marketing](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/09/07/dma-announces-new-committee-promote-responsible-marketing/)**( 7 September 2016) * **[IoF opens consultation on public fundraising accreditation programme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/12/14/iof-opens-consultation-public-fundraising-accreditation-programme/)**( 14 December 2016) * **[NPC issues briefing on best practice in fundraising for trustees](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/27/npc-issues-briefing-best-practice-fundraising-trustees/)**( 27 January 2017) ## Comments ### By: Rarry Revan - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/11/18/knowing-who-call/#comment-3817 - Published: 2009-11-18T13:49:49+00:00 Leadership in the charity sector? Don’t hold your breath… Whether a member of the Institute or not, the codes of practice have always in my eyes been seen as best practice. I hear the code is being reviewed, will you be putting yourself forward for the working party Gordy? I have always wondered why there is no sector body that covers telephone fundraising, a body that brings together charities and agencies to interprete the many guidelines and guidance so that their members can focus on best practice as well as results. I find the backlash against Pell and Bales’s honesty quite amusing. I’d bet nuff charity big wigs didn’t understand why this was an issue until the information commissioner stepped in. At which point they began casting damnations left right and centre. Leadership anyone? Rarry