Search: Charity

Paying charitable trustees

Although it clashes with the principle of giving one’s time voluntarily, the demands and responsibilities put on some trustees of charities are such that paying them will be a necessity in order to obtain people with the requisite levels of experience and expertise. This was the claim of Lord Hodgson in a recent public speech at a Charity Commission function....

Welcome review for Charity Act

This year sees the scheduled five year review of the Charities Act 2006, something which is being viewed as an opportunity to make changes that better reflect the very different world we live in.

Think local – give local: new initiative to boost charity donations

B P Collins has always been proud of its links with the local community and one project it supports is the Buckinghamshire Community Foundation.

Are benevolent funds charitable?

A benevolent fund is a fund that exists to benefit people who are linked together in a specific way - normally through a relationship with a particular company or person.

Legacy giving: A lasting gift at Christmas

Christmas is traditionally a time for giving, as well as endowing friends and family with lavish presents, and many people help those less fortunate by making a charitable donation.

Question marks over charity plan to cut IHT

In the continuing austerity climate, no one was expecting much in the way of charity from the Chancellor in his recent budget. However, he did announce one measure intended to increase the amount of charitable giving by an estimated £300 million. The Chancellor's proposal was that anyone who leaves 10% of their estate to charity would pay inheritance tax (IHT)...

Charity trustees: Balancing financial and social return on investment

One of the more frequent problems faced by charity trustees is that of balancing the need for charity investments to produce financial benefits with the desire for them to also produce social benefits. Fortunately, the Charity Commission has now updated its guidance for charity trustees, outlining how they should approach this problem and confirming the conditions under which a social...

The Equality Act and charities

Charity trustees who are concerned about the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on their charities should note that there are exemptions to the scope of the Act which apply to charities.

When charity begins at home

As charities struggle to keep donations flowing, B P Collins looks at how both individuals and organisations can help to fill the gap. Many charities have had a tough time recently, dealing with the double blow of falling donations from the public and a reduction in corporate sponsorship programmes, as both consumers and firms tightened their belts during the recession....

Charities Act 2006: Implications for Trustees

The Charities Act 2006 was introduced to make life simpler for trustees, to provide more safeguards for them and to bring the definition of 'charity' up to date.

How should a charity use its funds?

Funds given to a charity for a specific purpose must be used only for that purpose and the accounts must distinguish between the different types of funds according to the terms under which they were given.

How businesses can benefit from charitable giving

England and Wales has a diverse and vibrant charitable sector, with nearly 169,000 charities registered with the Charity Commission. It is understandable that fundraising income is hugely important to charities but, with so many good causes to choose from, it is becoming increasingly difficult to generate and, as a result, charities are focusing their fundraising efforts more and more on...