A code of best practice for volunteer fundraising has been launched today by the Institute of Fundraising (IoF).

Designed to help managers and trustees establish suitable volunteer policy, the Volunteer Fundraising Code highlights areas of importance, including issues associated with celebrities and the distinction between those volunteers working “on behalf of” an organisation, where the responsibility for the individual lies with the charity, and those working “in aid of” an organisation, when the responsibility remains with the volunteer.

Volunteering organisations have welcomed the code describing it as a critical step towards improving the volunteer experience.

Chris Penberthy, director of capacity building and infrastructure development at Volunteering England, said: “With 2005 being the Year of the Volunteer it is important that we all work to ensure that we not only recruit more volunteers but also that we retain those that we have. I believe this code is an important tool to assist organisations to be successful in these activities and in doing so build their own capacity and more importantly ensure that they have happy and effective volunteer fundraisers.”

The code can be downloaded from the IoF website at www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk