Should I start a charity just to fundraise for a cause I care about?
In this Frequently Asked Friday blog, Helen Oparinde, our Sector Growth Coordinator, explores a common question we hear from passionate changemakers. She explains why setting up a charity isn’t always the best route – and what your options are if you want to start fundraising the right way, without getting lost in legal complexity.
The question
I want to fundraise for a charity; should I set up my own charity to enable me to complete the fundraising plans I have?
The answer
As part of setting up a charity, you’ll need to check that your plans align with one or more of the 13 official charitable purposes set out by law.
It’s important to understand that fundraising by itself isn’t classed as a charitable purpose. Instead, fundraising should support a wider charitable aim, like improving health, supporting education, or reducing poverty.
There are also legal rules around fundraising. The Code of Fundraising Practice outlines the standards expected from charities and third-party fundraisers in the UK. These include things like treating people fairly and respectfully, explaining your cause honestly (without misleading people), and being especially careful around those who may be in vulnerable situations.
Because of all this, we wouldn’t usually recommend setting up your own charity just to fundraise. A better option is to get in touch with the charity or cause you want to support; they may already have opportunities for volunteer fundraisers.
If you’re looking to volunteer, the NCVS website can help you search for roles that suit you. You can filter by:
- The type of volunteer activity you’re interested in (e.g., admin, marketing, supporting people)
- The type of organisation you want to help (e.g., mental health, children, and young people)
- When you're available (day of the week or time of day)
- Where you want to volunteer (by Nottingham city electoral ward)
And if you're part of an organisation that involves volunteers, why not book onto one of our Skills for Leaders of Volunteers courses? As part of our 150th anniversary, we’re offering these courses for free.
