Ensure donation goes to registered charity

THE festive season is a traditional time of giving, with many charities hoping to avail of the public’s extra generosity in the run up to Christmas.

While this generosity is something to be applauded, I would encourage anyone considering giving to charity this Christmas to do so with confidence by undertaking some simple checks first.

As a first step, ask if the charity has registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and, if so, what is their registration number.

It’s a legal duty for charities to register with the commission and is a separate process to applying to HMRC for charitable tax status (which is voluntary and usually indicated with a reference number beginning with X).

All registered Northern Ireland charities have a charity number beginning with NIC, for example NIC100161, and are listed on the public register of charities (available at www. charitycommissionni.org. uk), where you can find a range of information on each charity.

Around 6,000 charities have been registered by the commission so far, with more added to the register on a weekly basis as registration progresses.

If a charity is not yet registered, you can still check to see if they are known to the commission and are listed on the commission’s online registration list. This lists if the organisation has closed, failed to apply for registration, needs to contact the commission, or been refused registration.

While incidents of fraudulent fundraising may be rare, they can have a devastating impact on those who believe they are donating to a good cause, as well as on public trust and confidence in the charity sector as a whole.

Taking the time to undertake a few basic checks before you donate can help to ensure you are giving to a bona fide and accountable charity.

TOM McGRATH

Chief Charity Commissioner Charity Commission for Northern Ireland