Fundraising dos and don'ts

Thank you for fundraising for us – we’re so happy to have you on board. Before you start, there are a few things you need to know. As well as following our guidelines, please make sure you stay safe, legal and considerate while fundraising.

Your fundraising should be inclusive and should not cause offence or discriminate against any group. It is against Comic Relief's policy to accept offensive or discriminatory fundraising, such as 'slave auctioning' of people.

If you’d like to check if your activity is appropriate, or if you have any questions once you’ve read these dos and don’ts, please get in touch.

THE BASICS

• To keep your fundraising safe, consider going cashless with a JustGiving page. Get started at comicrelief.com/justgiving
• Please don’t go door to door collecting cash. Comic Relief isn’t authorised to fundraise in this way.
• You’re responsible for organising your fundraising activity or event. Please make sure you follow any instructions or guidance given by Comic Relief.
• Fundraisers who are under 18 must have permission from their parent or guardian and must be supervised by a responsible adult.
• Under-18s should never approach strangers about fundraising.
• Please make sure your fundraising materials (things like posters, leaflets and signs) include one of the following lines (depending on whether you’re fundraising for Red Nose Day, Sport Relief or Comic Relief generally):‘In aid of Red Nose Day, an initiative of Comic Relief, operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730)’..‘In aid of Sport Relief, an initiative of Comic Relief, operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730)’. or‘In aid of Comic Relief, operating name of Charity Projects, registered charity in England & Wales (326568) and Scotland (SC039730)’..
• Your fundraising materials must not suggest that you represent us, only that you are fundraising in support of us.
• If you’d like to use the Fundraising in aid of Red Nose Day, Sport Relief or Comic Relief logo for fundraising, we can send you a high-res image and a few guidelines for using it – just get in touch.
• You’ll need a Fundraising Agreement with us if you’re:
• Want to use the Red Nose Day, Sport Relief or Comic Relief logo for your fundraising
• raising money through a business,
• receiving a reward for fundraising for us,
• deducting any amount from donations to cover costs, or
• splitting the money raised between Comic Relief and another charity/charities.

If you fall into any of those categories, contact us to arrange an agreement.

• If you’ve signed a Fundraising Agreement so that you can use some of the money you raise to cover costs, you must make this clear to people before they donate or sponsor you. If you don’t have a Fundraising Agreement, you’ll need to cover any costs or expenses involved in your fundraising event or activity.
• So that we can claim Gift Aid on donations (an extra 25% from the government), please send in your sponsorship forms after your event.
• If you choose to collect money in a public place, you’ll need a licence from the local authority (you can find details about this on the local authority’s website). e.
• There are strict rules about running raffles, tombolas, sweepstakes and other lotteries. Find out more at at gamblingcommission.gov.uk(England, Wales and Scotland) or nicva.org (Northern Ireland).
• If we collect any personal data from you – things like your name, email address and phone number – it will be handled under the applicable privacy laws. You can find out how we use and look after your data in our Privacy Notice.
• We love to see what our wonderful fundraisers get up to for Red Nose Day, Sport Relief or fundraising at any other time of the year. So do tell us about(opens in new window) your fundraising activities, or share your pictures on social media tagging @comicreliefor by email. Sometimes we use them in our fundraising campaigns, but we always ask permission first, by sending a release form or some other paperwork. To find out more, get in touch.

Liability:

• It’s up to you to protect the health and safety of everyone taking part in or attending your fundraising activity.
• You agree to comply with all health and safety rules, guidance and protocols (including, without limitation, any protocols issued in relation to Covid-19 and/or by the UK government).
• Any risks around your fundraising activity are your responsibility, including liability for injury to yourself, your helpers or your guests.
• You must comply with any applicable laws and regulations relating to your fundraising activity. This includes getting any necessary licences, consent or permissions for your event or activities, for instance, if you’re holding a raffle or selling alcohol.
• Comic Relief’s insurance policy won’t cover your fundraising activity. You should always consider whether you need insurance cover for your fundraising activity. If necessary, carry out a risk assessment and make sure everyone taking part is fully briefed about the activity.
• You will not do anything that threatens or negatively impacts Comic Relief’s reputation or name. If you do, without prejudice to Comic Relief’s other rights, Comic Relief has the right to ask you to stop your fundraising activity immediately.
• As well as following our guidelines, please make sure you stay safe, legal and considerate while fundraising. Your fundraising should be inclusive and should not cause offence or discriminate against any group. If you’d like to check if your activity is appropriate, get in touch.

TIPS FOR HANDLING CASH AND STAYING SAFE

This year, to keep your fundraising Covid-safe, consider going cashless with a JustGiving page. Get started at comicrelief.com/justgiving

If you do decide to accept cash donations and sponsorship, our tips will help you stay safe.

• If you’re ever challenged while handling cash, hand over the money without resistance and immediately report the incident to the police and then to Comic Relief.
• Make sure that whatever container you use to collect money is covered and has a slot for putting the money in, so people can’t see the cash. Please remember to follow our bucket collection guidance.
• Please don’t shake the container you use for your collection.
• Make sure all the money is pushed fully into the container and nothing is left sticking out.
• Never leave cash unattended during fundraising.
• Cash should be banked as soon as possible after being collected, preferably the same day. If it must be stored for a short period of time it should be held in a secure place like a safe, a locked drawer or a locker.
• We recommend that two unrelated people collect, count, transport and bank the cash, especially if it’s a large amount.

DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIP

If you donate to Comic Relief or sponsor anyone raising money for Comic Relief through a giving page or ParentPay, we can’t offer any refunds. To find out more, get in touch.

If you wish to donate to Comic Relief or sponsor anyone raising money for Comic Relief in any other way, please note that your donation or sponsorship is also non-refundable (except in specific limited circumstances).

If you sponsor someone to do any activity for Comic Relief, you’ll still need to pay your sponsorship amount, even if they don’t complete the activity.

GIFT AID

If you’re paying in a personal donation and tick the Gift Aid* box, the Government will give us 25% on top of your donation. It doesn’t cost you a penny and it means that every pound that you donate can go towards helping to transform people’s lives in the UK and across the world. The declaration can be used to collect Gift Aid on any donations you make in the future or have made in the past four years. If you’re over 18 years old and making a personal donation, please give your full name and home address and tick the box when requested or we can’t claim Gift Aid.

* You must be a UK taxpayer and understand that if you pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

Comic Relief is not an accounting, taxation or financial advisor, and you shouldn’t rely on information given on this site to determine the accounting, tax or financial consequences of making a donation to Comic Relief. Please consult your own adviser(s) about any accounting, taxation or financial consequences that may affect you.