In April, following almost three years of engagement and consultation with the sector, we published the new Code of Fundraising Practice (the code), which comes into effect on 1 November 2025.
This represents a significant development in how we set out our rules and expectations for fundraisers. To support this change, we worked with individuals and organisations across the sector to explain our new approach. More than 1,500 people attended our in-person and online events across the UK. Feedback was positive, with 90% of attendees saying they found the sessions useful and almost eight in ten saying they felt positive about the new code.
You can watch a recording of one of our webinars here.
Questions from our code events
At the events, we received a range of questions about the new code and how our principles-based approach will work in practice. In some cases, there wasn’t time to answer everything on the day.
To help, we’ve gathered the most common questions and created a dedicated FAQs page. This resource provides further insight into how the code will apply and what fundraising organisations need to do to prepare ahead of 1 November 2025.
If you have a question not covered in the FAQs, you can use our Code Advice Service.
Refinement of wording
As we approach the code becoming operational, we have made a small number of minor amendments to improve clarity about our expectations.
All changes have been reviewed through the same legal and Plain English processes applied throughout the code.
The three wording updates are:
1. ID badges (page 52)
The original wording required ID badges for professional fundraisers to include both the name and contact details of the third-party employer and the charity. Feedback suggested this could create unnecessary duplication where the fundraiser’s role was already clear (e.g. through branded clothing).
Updated wording:
All ID badges must contain:
- The name of, and contact details for, either the charitable institution the fundraiser is collecting for or the third-party employer.
2. Processing fees (rule 7.5.2)
The original text referred to ‘any processing fees’ in relation to unstaffed collections. To make expectations clearer – particularly that standard transaction costs such as card processing fees do not need to be included – the rule has been updated.
Updated wording:
“Details of the processing fees involved in the donation.”
A new Glossary entry now defines “processing fee” as:
A fee paid to a fundraising partner to process a donation to a charitable institution. This does not include standard transaction fees, such as card processing fees.
3. Will-writing partners (rule 14.3.3)
The explanatory text previously referred to offering testators at least two ‘partners’ to choose from, which implied fundraising organisations must hold formal partnerships with multiple providers.
Updated wording:
“Giving the testator at least two providers to choose from, without providing a recommendation.”
When these updates will appear
The revised wording will be included in the final version of the code when it comes into effect on 1 November 2025. In the meantime, they are highlighted in the current PDF versions with an asterisk to this blog so readers are clear on our expectations. A more detailed summary of the changes is available in the Changelog.
Next steps for fundraisers
With two months to go until implementation, now is the time to:
- Familiarise yourself with the new code and supporting guidance.
- Check that your fundraising processes align with the updated requirements.
- Share information about the new code with colleagues and partners.
- Refresh your fundraising materials, especially around unstaffed collection points, to ensure compliance.
- Read new guidance on fundraising events, fundraising on social media, and online gaming and fundraising (published in July) and cashless donations (published earlier this week).
Coming soon
To support you and your organisation in preparing, we will be hosting a free interactive webinar in mid-October. Further details and registration are available here.