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Keeping up with the noise behind Fundraising Data Protection Regulation
Last week, representatives from the Information Commissioner’s Office, Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission convened in Manchester for the Fundraising Regulation Consent Conference. The event aimed to help charities and fundraising groups comply with current data protection practices and prepare for upcoming GDPR changes.
The conference attracted charities, higher education institutions, trustees, and consultants eager to understand regulatory requirements. While this post doesn’t recap the entire event, it provides insight into sector developments and helps readers track important changes.
The latest updates in Fundraising Data Protection Regulation
Understanding which updates matter amid constant noise is challenging. Here are key resources and developments:
These documents include guidance notes, case studies, action checklists, and self-assessment toolkits to ensure charitable compliance with data usage laws. The ICO has also released draft guidance notes available here, with feedback accepted until March 31, 2017.
Fundraising Preference Service
Recent updates from the working group outline practical implementation details:
- A soft launch of the service is scheduled for May 2017 with 10-12 participants, followed by full launch in June 2017.
- Charities will receive donor consent preference changes via email or access them through a login service or FTP site.
- A 28-day adjustment window allows charities to update systems, similar to Telephone Preference Service (TPS) requirements.
- Donors can manage preferences for three charities simultaneously and must provide complete contact details when opting out.
This group comprises UK higher education institutions and sector suppliers collaborating through the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and Universities UK (UUK). Four sub-groups address Market Research, Data Consistency/Opt In, Technology, and Advocacy.
Elaine Lee and Adrian Salmon are conducting research on telephone fundraising and donor experiences. Participation deadline is March 3.
Rogare Critical Fundraising Forum
Established by Ian MacQuillin from Rogare (Plymouth University’s fundraising think tank), this forum provides space to critically assess global fundraising issues, test new ideas, and share research and insights.
This Facebook group of nearly 3,000 members enables peer-to-peer learning and best practice sharing, particularly useful as the sector implements consent capture procedures.
Discussing Fundraising Data Protection Regulation
Influential UK fundraisers have shared perspectives on the conference, particularly regarding ICO assumptions about sector operations. Building sector understanding requires “positive examples of best practice and data-supported evidence of the thoughts and feelings of those we communicate with.”
Notable opinion pieces include:
- “Time to claim the high ground, but problems still remain”, Adrian Beney, More Partnership
- “Fundraisers and the ICO are further apart than ever before”, Hugh Radojev, Civil Society UK
- “A proposed solution to allow early-stage major gifts fundraising in the UK to be Data Protection compliant”, Adrian Salmon, Grenzebach Glier and Associates
