The CASE Guidelines on GDPR Compliance: Wealth screening and prospect research outline the circumstances under which wealth screening, prospect research and collecting contact details activities, can be carried out lawfully.

The Information Commissioners Office has reviewed this document though they have not approved or endorsed it.

Following consultation with our members in the UK, CASE and Universities UK have submitted a joint response to Fundraising Preference Service Working Group on the scope of the FPS and the impact its introduction will have on the education sector.

The working group has produced a paper and made a number of proposals with regard to:

• the type of communications that should come within the scope of the FPS
• the channels to which the FPS should apply
• how the FPS should relate to existing preference services such as the telephone and mail preference services
• the possibility of allowing individuals to amend their FPS registration
• the application of the FPS to smaller charities
• the use of the FPS as a tool to protect vulnerable people.

With schools, colleges and universities having charitable status in the UK, CASE Europe and Universities UK have been focussed on making sure that any changes to fundraising practice do not inadvertently have a negative impact on the fundraising that takes place within and for educational institutions. This has been done through meetings with government ministers and other key stakeholders as well as engagement with their respective memberships.

In the response to the proposals, CASE Europe and Universities UK said:

"As a community we were disappointed, like everyone else, with the fundraising techniques that were revealed in 2015 as being used by some registered charities. We were pleased that the government decided to take action. However, we believe now is the time for the regulation to focus on the challenges which were uncovered. This should not unintentionally harm good practice and long-standing relationships. We look forward to engaging with you further in the coming months to develop an FPS that protects individuals and ensures good fundraising practice while avoiding unintended consequences."

The submission was sent to George Kidd, the working group chair, at the start of April 2016.

View the CASE Europe and Universities UK response.