Institute of Fundraising granted Royal Charter status

The UK’s Institute of Fundraising has been granted Royal Charter status from Her Majesty The Queen, signifying formal public recognition of fundraising as a profession.

The Royal Charter, which was approved at a meeting of the Privy Council on 12 February 2020, will take legal effect once the Royal seal is attached, which is expected within the next few weeks. 

Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, described it as a “huge achievement”, saying:

“It demonstrates, through the Royal Charter, formal public recognition across the UK of fundraising as a profession, and of the specialist professional skills fundraisers bring to their work, making the world a better place.”

The Institute, which has around 6,000 fundraisers, hopes to start operating as the new Chartered Institute of Fundraising in April, once the Royal Charter takes effect, and plans to launch its new identify before Fundraising Convention, its flagship annual conference.

The IoF submitted its formal Petition to the Privy Council in July last year to establish a new royal chartered body to be known as the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. This followed a consultation period with its members and a vote on the decision to apply for chartered status that saw 96.8% vote in support of the move.