Donate with confidence
Follow our simple steps for giving safely
Most fundraising is genuine; however, fraudsters sometimes take advantage of public generosity, especially at times of increased giving, using methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from fake charities.
Help ensure your donations make it to genuine causes by making a few simple checks before you donate.
Check the charity register
Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information by checking the charity’s name and registration number on the charity register (most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered – to find out more read our guidance on exempt charities)
Find out more information about the charity
You can also use the charity register to find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to, to understand their charitable purpose and see how they are spending their funds.
Look out for the Fundraising Badge
Look out for the Fundraising Badge and check the Fundraising Regulator’s Directory of organisations which have committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
About The Fundraising Regulator
The Fundraising Regulator is the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further guidance on giving safely to charity is available on the Fundraising Regulator’s website.
Be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them
You can find out more about phishing by reading the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance on how to spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and calls
About the National Cyber Security Centre
The National Cyber Security Centre is part of the UK’s intelligence & cyber agency. Visit their website to find out more.
Ask the collector for more information
A face-to-face fundraiser should have a licence from the relevant Local Authority Licensing team or the Metropolitan Police (in Greater London). Never feel under pressure into donating immediately. Ask the collector for more information and if in doubt, wait and make a donation directly at a time that suits you
If after making these checks you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud over the phone at 0300 123 2040 or online.
Follow the Charity Commission:
