Join the Fundraising Standards Board scheme in Scotland
Who can join the scheme?
Any organisation that engages in fundraising from the general public should join. That includes registered charities, voluntary sector or not-for-profit organisations, trust, business and consultants. Organisations should join if they:
Receive financial donations, gifts in kind or services and facilities:
- From members of the public, founders, members, patrons, suppoerters or businesses
- Through collections, appeals, legacies, events, payroll giving, sponsorship, online giving or through the fundraising efforts of others
Or if they:
- Have members who pay a subscription to join or to stay as a member of the organisation
Where should you join?
All organisations joining the FRSB only need to join once. But the location of the main operating and fundraising base of organisations will determine where you should join the FRSB
- Organisations that only operate in and raise money in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland should join the FRSB through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office
- Organisations that only operate in and raise money in England and/or Wales should join the FRSB through the office in London
- Organisations operating or raising money in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland as part of a UK wide organisation with their main office elsewhere in the UK should join through the FRSB office in London
- Organisations operating and raising money across the UK with their main office in Scotland or Northern Ireland should join the FRSB through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office
- Organisations operating or raising money in Northern Ireland as part of an Ireland wide organisation with their main office elsewhere in Ireland should join through the FRSB Scotland and Northern Ireland office
Here are some examples to help you decide where to join:
Example 1
Charity A is registered with the Charity Commission and operates and raises money across England and Wales. But Charity A has a “sister” organisation called Charity A Scotland that is registered with OSCR and operates and raises money only in Scotland. The 2 organisations are entirely separate bodies but work collaboratively on some areas of activity.
Charity A should join the FRSB through the UK office in London. Charity A Scotland because it is a separate organisation should join the FRSB too, through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office.
Example 2
Charity B is registered with the Charity Commission and operates and raises money across the whole of the UK. It has a separate office in Northern Ireland engaging in campaigning, fundraising and service delivery activity in Northern Ireland. However, the funds raised in Northern Ireland are accounted for at UK level with the fundraising function controlled and operated as part of the UK team.
Charity B should join the FRSB through the UK office in London.
Example 3
Charity D UK is registered with the Charity Commission and operates across the UK. It has a Scottish operation – Charity D Scotland – that engages in campaigning, fundraising and delivering services. Funds raised in Scotland by a Scottish fundraising team are spent in Scotland but accounted for at UK level. Charity D will eventually have to register its Scottish operation with OSCR.
Charity D UK should join the FRSB through the UK office in London but should also consider having Charity D Scotland join the FRSB through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office.
There is also a Northern Ireland operation but this is controlled and managed through Charity D Ireland. Any money raised in Northern Ireland is accounted for by Charity D Ireland. The Northern Ireland operation of Charity D Ireland should join the FRSB separately through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office.
How to join
If you think you should join the FRSB through the Scotland and Northern Ireland office, please register for a Scottish application pack. You can do this in several ways:
Complete the online registration form
Email membershipscotland@frsb.org.uk
Phone 0845 688 9894
If you think you should join through the London office you can also do this in several ways:
Complete the online registration form
Email membership@frsb.org.uk
Phone 0845 402 5442
Don't worry if you're not sure. Get in touch and we will help you sort it out!