Rules surrounding collecting for charity

[jackieandwayne]

I am a member of a local group here in Dorset, Pets Lost and Found. It is purely voluntary and now has 4032 members. They will post up quickly about stolen pets, lost pets, found pets, and organise searches for cats, dogs, birds that go missing. They go out and scan deceased animals, or take wildlife off to a vet etc. .They are very successful and have helped many people get back with lost pets, although there have been a few sad endings, of course.

 

Its not a registered charity, but they did ask for donations for a petrol fund a while ago, which is very reasonable considering what they do. They also ask sometimes for help with admin, this is a kitty so that they can then help with advertising, tracker dogs etc. They sometimes pick up on other charities appeals, and point the members in the right direction if they wish to donate to those.

 

They recently had the idea of asking for Xmas donations to give as many dogs (homeless or in rescues) a Xmas pressie. Someone pointed out that they couldn´t ask for donations, it was unlawful as they were not a registered charity. So to err on the side of caution, shoeboxes are being packed and handed over instead.

 

Now, is this correct, that they cannot lawfully ask for donations? And could someone point me to a website or something where I can read up about this, as I´d like to help them out, but I don´´t know much about this.

 

Many thanks for any replies.

[Conniff]

Of course you can ask for donations. You are what is termed a 'non profit organisations'. You should keep up to date books though.

[Bazooka Boo]

Google is a whizz!

http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/code-of-fundraising-practice/

[jackieandwayne]

Thank you both. Info has been shared and I believe I can hear "ching ching" as well as the sound of shoe boxes being packed!

[Conniff]

You don't need to be a registered charity to ask friends and neighbours if they would like to donate a few bob towards the new tyres you need for your car

[Consumer dude]

Don't think any charity is allowed to shake a tin are they in the street or a public place but I could be wrong..

[Bazooka Boo]

Don't think any charity is allowed to shake a tin are they in the street or a public place but I could be wrong..

 

Quite right, the shaking of collection tins/buckets is frowned upon, at least what I have been taught anyway..