# Good Fundraising Code reaches 400 sign-ups

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/10/25/good-fundraising-code-reaches-400-signups/
- Published: 2010-10-25T08:37:31+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

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

Over 400 organisations have now signed up to the Good Fundraising Code, set up by
fundraising agency Company Solutions UK Ltd last year to offer organisations a way
to demonstrate their adherence “to good practice and high ethical standards” at 
no charge.

Gareth Edwards of Company Solutions UK Ltd said: “At the time, people criticised
us and claimed it was a marketing stunt for our business. However, not once have
we emailed or promoted our training or other services to people who have signed 
up to just the code… all our marketing is independent of and not linked to the code
sign ups.

“In fact, almost all of the code subscribers have been our customers first who we
then tell about the code. The code is not a marketing tool. It is, quite simply,
a response to the genuine concerns from many charities that being charged a fee 
to appear more ethical than other causes is simply wrong.

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Referring to the [Fundraising Standards Board’s Give with Confidence](http://www.givewithconfidence.org.uk/default.aspx?page=/gwc/about-the-tick/how-we-can-help)
scheme, he added: “A two tier system was being created between charities who paid
a fee and those who did not. Now, at least, the charities who are ethical but do
not want to pay a fee have an option to demonstrate this.

“Running the code for us, as a business serving the sector, costs time and resource,
and has therefore been run at a loss and service to the sector. We are happy to 
continue to do this for the increasing number of charities who want to show good
ethics without paying a fee, but we do wish those who think there should be only
one paid for code would accept that there are charities already in their hundreds
who disagree.

“Criticising this code criticises directly all these hard-working charities and 
fundraisers who make this choice.”

www.practicalfundraising.com/Page12.aspx?ID=229

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