Institute of Fundraising & PFRA complete merger

The Institute of Fundraising (IoF) and the PFRA merged on 31 August to form a single membership body across the UK for fundraising.

Speaking of the merger, Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, said:

“The PFRA has a proud track-record of both improving standards and representing face-to-face fundraising. As a single membership organisation, together we will be able to do even more to support the fundraising community to achieve the highest professional standards and raise millions of pounds for vital causes across the country.” 

The merger was unanimously backed by both boards and approved by the overwhelming majority of the PFRA’s members. It follows closer collaboration between both organisations in recent years, and the changing regulatory and external environment, which has included greater media scrutiny of charities and the introduction of the Fundraising Regulator.

Under the merger, the PFRA has joined the IoF, and a new Compliance Directorate has been formed, headed up by the PFRA’s chief executive, Peter Hills-Jones, with the aim of supporting the fundraising community to improve professional standards.

The merger has also seen new investment in the external affairs team at the IoF to help ensure that the organisation maintains a strong public voice for the fundraising community.  The IoF has been consulting members on a new five-year strategy for its work and priorities, which will be finalised later in the year.