Good causes & charities
Giving to a good cause means trusting that your money reaches the people it is meant to help.
Good causes & charities companies
30 companies
About Good causes & charities
Good causes and charities in the United Kingdom cover a broad range of work, from international aid and medical research to animal welfare, children's services, the arts and local community projects. Organisations in this category are registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises and fundraising platforms that act on behalf of good causes. They reach supporters through direct mail, street and door-to-door fundraising, telephone appeals, legacy giving, corporate partnerships, sponsored events and increasingly through digital channels and crowdfunding.
Their work is shaped by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and the Fundraising Regulator, which sets the Code of Fundraising Practice. The rules governing charities set out how they must be governed, how they report their finances and how trustees are held accountable for the way donations are used. Charities with incomes above a certain threshold must file annual accounts publicly, which allows the sector to be scrutinised by anyone who wishes to look.
Charity fundraising is also subject to data protection law enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office, which governs how donor details are collected, stored and used. Membership bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and the Institute of Fundraising support professional standards across the sector. Some organisations in this category are small local groups run largely by volunteers, while others are large national charities with substantial staff teams, shops and trading subsidiaries.
Questions about Good causes & charities
How do I check a charity is genuine before I donate?
Search for the charity on the Charity Commission register for England and Wales, the OSCR register for Scotland or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland register, and confirm its registration number matches the one printed on its materials. Check the charity's annual return and accounts on the same register, which show how much it raised and spent and what it did with the money.
What should I compare when choosing a charity to support?
Compare how much of the money raised goes on the cause itself rather than on fundraising and administration, using the figures in the published accounts. Look at whether the charity sets out clearly what it does, who it helps and how it measures results, and whether its trustees are named and unpaid.
Do I have to pay to sign up to a charity's regular giving scheme?
No, you do not have to pay anything to set up a regular gift, although you will be asked for bank or card details to make the payments. Any direct debit you set up is protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee, which lets you cancel the payments with your bank at any time.
How do I cancel a regular donation?
Contact the charity in writing or by phone to ask it to stop the payments, and keep a note of the date you made the request. You can also cancel a Direct Debit by contacting your bank, which must stop the payments if you ask, and you should then tell the charity you have done so.
Can I get a refund on a donation I regret making?
Charities are not required to refund a donation made in good faith, so a refund depends on the charity's own policy and is not a legal right. If the donation was made under pressure or through a misleading approach, you can raise this with the charity and, if necessary, with the Fundraising Regulator.
Is a charity I am paying for raffle tickets or events bound by any rules?
Lotteries and raffles run by charities must be registered with the local authority under the Gambling Act 2005 and must follow the limits on ticket sales and prizes. Small society lotteries are regulated by the Gambling Commission, and you can check whether a lottery is registered on the local authority's public register.
How are charity fundraisers and face-to-face collectors regulated in the UK?
Fundraisers working for charities must follow the Code of Fundraising Practice, which is enforced by the Fundraising Regulator across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Collectors must carry identification and should be able to show you the charity's authority to fundraise, and you can ask to see both before you give.
What if I am unhappy with how a charity has handled my complaint?
Put your complaint to the charity in writing and ask for a written reply, most charities having a formal complaints procedure that they must follow. If the charity does not resolve the matter, you can complain to the relevant charity regulator, the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR in Scotland or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, and for fundraising conduct to the Fundraising Regulator.
Does a charity have to keep my personal data safe when I donate?
Charities must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, and they must tell you what they will do with your details. You have the right to ask a charity what personal data it holds about you, to ask it to correct or stop using your details, and to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office if it fails to respond.
How can I stop a charity contacting me by phone or post?
Ask the charity directly to stop contacting you, and it must respect that request under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and data protection law. You can register your number with the Telephone Preference Service and your postal address with the Mailing Preference Service to reduce unwanted approaches from charities.
Do charity shops and online charity sellers have to tell me how much goes to the cause?
Charity shops and online sellers that trade on behalf of a charity must make clear whether they are the charity itself or a commercial trading company running the shop for it. Under the Charities Act rules on trading subsidiaries, the charity must publish its accounts, which show the income it receives from trading and how that income is used.
What should I look for in reviews of charities?
Look for reviews that describe a specific experience of donating, volunteering or receiving help, rather than general praise or criticism with no detail. Check whether reviewers mention the charity's accounts, its communications and how it responded to complaints, and treat reviews that appear in bulk or read as identical with caution.