CIOF publishes revised public fundraising Rule Books
Howard Lake | 5 November 2026 | News
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) has published three revised Rule Books setting out the standards expected of organisations and individuals in its public fundraising programme. They cover door-to-door, private site and street fundraising.
The update follows the Fundraising Regulator’s new Code of Fundraising Practice and an extensive consultation with CIOF’s charity and fundraising agency members. The Rule Books also reflect other relevant regulation, including the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice where applicable, as they cover lottery fundraising through door-to-door and private site campaigns.
What the Rule Books contain
Each Rule Book distinguishes between requirements derived from external regulation and additional rules specific to CIOF’s programme. They set out separate expectations for frontline fundraisers and operational staff, alongside the arrangements for assessing compliance, reporting breaches, applying sanctions and hearing appeals.
Advertisement
The additional CIOF rules include specific protections for households displaying no-cold-calling notices, greater transparency and accountability where agencies use subcontractors, a requirement for fundraisers to wear branded clothing, and detailed requirements on permission, conduct and the responsible use of private and street fundraising sites. CIOF says members agreed these were needed to support good practice and protect public confidence in fundraising.
Reactions
Rob Cope, Executive Director of Membership & Operations at CIOF, said: “These revised Rule Books give charities, agencies, operational teams and frontline fundraisers clear and consistent standards to follow. They align our programme with the new Code of Fundraising Practice and other relevant regulation, while retaining additional safeguards developed with our members.”
Paul Winyard, Director of Policy at the Fundraising Regulator, said all public fundraisers should “carefully follow the Rule Books”, which align with the recently updated Code and other regulatory requirements.
The revised Rule Books are available on the CIOF website.
- Regulator tells AI advisers and suppliers to reflect its guidance too (10 September 2026)
- Rogare issues warning as commission-based pay for fundraisers is deregulated (4 February 2026)
- New version of Code of Fundraising Practice revealed (6 June 2019)
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.