New ACNC guidance for charities engaging with vulnerable people

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), in collaboration with the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA), have published a guidance in order to help charities that engage with vulnerable people while fundraising.

The guidance, Fundraising: people in vulnerable circumstances, outlines how charities can recognise people in vulnerable circumstances and provides suggested actions for engaging these people respectfully when fundraising.

In releasing the new guidance, ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe recognised that charities needed to be careful when engaging people in vulnerable circumstances.

“It is important for charity fundraisers to be able to recognise people in vulnerable circumstances and act ethically and responsibly when engaging them,” Pascoe said.

Pascoe noted that good fundraising practice has a positive effect on the reputations of charities and the charity sector as a whole.

“Many charities have built good reputations over years and decades of good work. They rely on these reputations for public support,” she said.

“It’s important that charity boards put in place good fundraising practice as part of running a well-governed, accountable organisation.

“When conducting fundraising – particularly when engaging with people in vulnerable circumstances – charities need to consider the public perception of their actions, and how this might affect support for their causes.”

Pascoe was proud to be able to release the guidance with the support of the Fundraising Institute of Australia.

“The Fundraising Institute of Australia provides leadership to fundraising organisations on conducting ethical, accountable and transparent fundraising. These are all fundamental aspects of good governance, and the ACNC is pleased to be working with the FIA in releasing this guidance to registered charities. It is important that we have strong regulatory partnerships which work to support the sector. We are pleased to have consulted with the FIA on such an important topic,” she said.

The Fundraising Institute of Australia’s CEO, Rob Edwards, welcomed the guidance and the consultation with the ACNC.

“As the national peak body representing professional fundraising in Australia, we value collaboration with government agencies on fundraising issues,” Edwards said.

“The ACNC’s new guidance will provide registered charities with clarity of the ACNC’s view of a complex and difficult aspect of fundraising.

“We look forward to further collaboration with the ACNC and other agencies on issues of fundraising practice in Australia.”

Pascoe also highlighted that the guidance draws on principles of good governance to help charities shape their approaches to engaging people in vulnerable circumstances when fundraising.

“Charity boards and committees need to consider their fundraising practices as part of charity governance,” Pascoe said.

“They should have adequate processes and checks set up to protect people in vulnerable circumstances.

“A charity’s fundraising practices should be consistent with the charity’s values, and should always treat donors and potential donors fairly and respectfully.”