About Course
Introduction to Fundraising
CPD Accredited – July Edition
A Practical Guide for Non-Fundraisers
A practical, jargon-free introduction to UK fundraising, covering the law, ethics, income types and how to get started with confidence in the voluntary sector. Developed by GeckoFundraising Ltd and offered completely free of charge as a starting point for your fundraising journey.
Who Is This Course For?
This course has been designed for anyone who is new to fundraising, or who wants to build a solid foundation of knowledge in UK charity fundraising. Whether you are a:
- Trustee or board member who has recently taken on governance responsibility for fundraising
- Volunteer taking on a fundraising or grant-seeking role for the first time
- Staff member in a charity, school or voluntary organisation who has been asked to lead on fundraising
- Chief Executive of a small organisation who leads on all aspects of income development
- Teacher, project worker or service manager who wants to understand the funding landscape their work depends on
- Community group leader looking to access grant funding for the first time
This course will give you the knowledge, confidence and practical grounding to understand how fundraising works in the UK, what the law requires, and how to take your first steps. No prior fundraising experience assumed.
Course Overview
6 modules · Average 2 to 3 hours to complete · Work at your own pace · Completely free
Understanding Fundraising & the UK Voluntary Sector
Before you can fundraise effectively, you need to understand what fundraising actually is, the scale and significance of the UK voluntary sector, and who the key regulatory and representative bodies are. This module defines fundraising and distinguishes it from earned income, statutory funding and investment income. You will learn what makes an organisation a charity in law, the two tests that must be satisfied under the Charities Act 2011, and why bodies including the Fundraising Regulator, the Charity Commission and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising matter to your work.
The Legal Framework for Fundraising in the UK
UK fundraising is governed by a range of legislation. Whether you are applying for a grant, collecting on the street, running a raffle or handling donor data, the law applies. This module covers the key legislation every fundraiser needs to know: the Charities Act 2011, Gift Aid and GASDS, UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, PECR and the rules on electronic marketing, the Gambling Act 2005 and what it means for raffles and prize draws, and the specific permit requirements for street and house-to-house collections. Trustee responsibilities for lawful fundraising are also covered.
Ethical Fundraising: Standards, Rights & Protection
Legal compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. This module covers the Code of Fundraising Practice, the standards all UK charitable fundraising must meet, and what it requires in terms of honesty, transparency, fairness and accountability. You will learn your obligations towards vulnerable people, the Fundraising Promise and what donors have the right to expect, how to handle complaints fairly and in line with the Code, and the fundraising transparency reporting requirements that apply to charities with income over £1 million.
The Fundraising Mix: Types of Income
There is no single route to fundraising success. A healthy, resilient organisation typically draws income from multiple sources. This module introduces the main income streams available to UK charities, grants from trusts and foundations, statutory funding (grants and contracts), individual giving, corporate fundraising and partnerships, community fundraising and social enterprise, and explains the key features, advantages and legal considerations of each. The concept of income diversification and restricted versus unrestricted funds is introduced throughout.
Building Your Case for Support
Before approaching any funder, you need to be able to articulate clearly and compellingly why your organisation deserves support. This module covers the foundations of building a credible, evidence-based case for support: how to evidence need using credible data sources, how to describe your beneficiaries with specificity and dignity, how to build a Theory of Change that maps your inputs through to long-term impact, the concept of beneficiary voice and co-production, and how to set SMART objectives that make your project fundable. Data protection requirements for using beneficiary case studies are covered.
Planning Your Fundraising Journey
The final module brings everything together. You will learn how to create a simple fundraising strategy, how to research and approach funders effectively, using 360Giving, GrantNav and the Charity Commission register, and how to ensure your organisation meets the fundraising readiness checklist that most funders check before reading a single word of your application. Building fundraising capacity, whether through training, recruitment or professional support, is covered. A curated set of authoritative UK resources points you to everything you need to take the next step.
What You Will Learn
On completion of all six modules, you will be able to:
- ✓ Define fundraising and distinguish it from other types of charity income
- ✓ Identify the key legislation and regulatory framework that governs UK fundraising
- ✓ Understand your obligations under the Code of Fundraising Practice and UK GDPR
- ✓ Recognise the main types of income available to UK charities and the legal considerations of each
- ✓ Build an evidence-based case for support that meets the public benefit test and the expectations of grant funders
- ✓ Set SMART objectives and apply the Theory of Change model to your organisation’s work
- ✓ Conduct basic funder research using free, authoritative UK tools
- ✓ Ensure your organisation meets the governance and compliance checklist that funders check before assessing your project
- ✓ Take your next step with confidence, whether that is your first grant application, a new income stream, or further professional development
Benefits for You and Your Organisation
✓ Build Confidence from Day One
No jargon, no assumed knowledge. This course starts from first principles and builds your understanding step by step, giving you the confidence to engage with funders, trustees and colleagues on equal terms.
✓ Understand the Law
UK fundraising is governed by more legislation than most people realise. This course makes sure you know what applies to you and your organisation, without the legalese.
✓ A Foundation for Everything Else
Every other GeckoFundraising course builds on the knowledge this one establishes. Complete this first and you will get significantly more from every course that follows.
✓ Completely Free
No payment. No subscription. No credit card. This course is GeckoFundraising’s gift to the sector, because we believe good fundraising knowledge should be accessible to everyone.
✓ A Resource You Will Keep Using
Download and save the course as a PDF for future reference. Return to it whenever you are onboarding a new trustee, welcoming a new volunteer or refreshing your own knowledge.
✓ Recognised Achievement
Complete all six modules and receive a personalised, printable CPD-accredited certificate of completion, a record of your learning to share with your board, employer or commissioner.
– Amie Elliott, GeckoFundraising Ltd
Important: complete this course on one device
Your progress, knowledge-check answers and certificate details are saved locally in the browser you use to open the course. They are not stored on our server and will not transfer to another device, or to a different browser on the same device. Please start and finish the course using the same device and browser. Clearing your browser history or site data, or using a private or incognito window, will also erase your progress. Your downloadable copy of the course is unaffected and can be opened anywhere.
Course Content
Introduction to Fundraising
Introduction to Fundraising