Chasing Shadows? Perspectives on Self-Regulation in UK Charity Fundraising

In: Public policy and administration: PPA, Band 21, Heft 3, S. 86-104

Abstract

The policy developments culminating in the creation of a self-regulatory body for charity fundraising for England, Scotland and Wales are explored. Underpinned by literature on regulation, the paper identifies policy chronology and processes leading to the establishment of a 'Fundraising Standards Board' in 2006. It reports on the roles of some leading charities in driving the policy forward and draws on the metaphor of the 'shadow of the state' as ever present in self-regulation systems. It considers the prior complexity of UK charity fundraising regulation and suggests that this latest development reflects a market-based view of the fundraising environment, rather than one which delivers new accountabilities.