How to Complain About a Charity in the UK
How to complain about a UK charity: governance failures, fundraising pressure, misuse of funds. Charity Commission and FRSO routes.
If you have concerns about how a charity is being run, how it raises funds, or how it spends donations, you have the right to complain. Start by contacting the charity directly using their formal complaints process.
For governance issues — such as trustees acting outside their powers, mismanagement of funds, or failure to pursue the charity's stated objectives — report your concerns to the Charity Commission. They can open a regulatory compliance case and, in serious cases, remove trustees or freeze assets.
For aggressive or misleading fundraising practices, complain to the Fundraising Regulator (FRSO). They enforce the Code of Fundraising Practice and can require charities to change their behaviour. You can also register with the Fundraising Preference Service to stop unwanted charity contact.
Key Legislation
- Charities Act 2011
- Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice
Key Deadlines
- Charity Commission: no fixed deadline, but report promptly
- FRSO: within 2 months of the fundraising incident