Is the sector doing enough to increase public trust in charities?

Third Force News

4 April 2008

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Kate Higgins, Scotland manager, Fundraising Standards Board
NO

Trust is fragile. As this research clearly shows. Tough economic times mean people are looking to justify not giving to good causes. Persuading themselves that charities can’t be trusted will help salve people’s consciences when they cancel direct debits and ignore appeals for donations. So voluntary organisations need to do all that they can to nurture trust and that means making the most of all the opportunities and tools they have at their disposal.

NfP Synergy’s research also found that 22 per cent of respondents trust the Fundraising Standards Board, even though it was less than six months old at the time. This is good news: joining the FRSB will clearly help voluntary organisations give people the confidence they are looking for, and as public awareness of the FRSB grows so will recognition of what the tick logo stands for.

But for the FRSB to do the job the sector expects it to do, and the public wants it to do, it needs the backing of the whole of the sector. And that means everyone who raises money from individuals, businesses and trusts, no matter how much or how little, dusting off the application packs sitting in their in trays and making time to complete the forms – now. And existing members need to ensure the tick logo is on their websites and all their fundraising materials and also to shout from the rooftops that they have committed publicly to practising high standards when raising money.

Public trust in charities has fallen nine points in a year. We need to act now to arrest that decline. Joining the FRSB should be a priority for all voluntary organisations. The government has put its trust in us to do this voluntarily but declining levels of public trust in charities might encourage them to change their mind – let’s not allow that to happen.

Jane Ryder, Chief executive, OSCR
YES

I read with interest the headlines about nfpSynergy’s survey which apparently showed public trust in charities “at an all time low”. Effective and transparent regulation plays a key part in reinforcing the public confidence and trust upon which charities depend and this has been the rationale behind the creation and development of OSCR.

The new regulatory regime includes the publication of the online Charity Register and the introduction of a comprehensive monitoring regime, aimed at addressing basic concerns. Searches of the register are increasing month by month. However, we recognise the need to maximise public awareness and this is why we undertook a Scotland-wide advertising campaign to raise OSCR’s public profile and encourage access to the register. We are also looking at generating wider awareness of new developments, particularly the new fundraising regulations.

Meanwhile, we have granted charitable status to over 1,600 new applicants in the past two years and, if anything, the demand for charitable status is increasing. Engagement at grass roots level is surely an indication of trust in charities, given the willingness of individuals to apply their time, energy and enthusiasm even in an uncertain financial climate.

At present we are undertaking our annual research into public awareness and trust in charities in Scotland, surveying 10,000 Scottish households. The results will be compared with last year’s survey to track changes in attitudes and the findings will be of interest to everyone in the sector. We are also surveying Scottish charities to gauge their views on charity regulation and issues affecting them. Both surveys can be completed online at www.oscr.org.uk and I would encourage TFN readers to contribute their views – particularly in the area of public trust.

NfpSynergy asks who has responsibility for the reputation of the charity sector. The answer is that we all do: charities have a responsibility individually and collectively but a robust regulatory framework is also key to public trust and assurance, and to the flourishing sector which is OSCR’s overall objective.

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