A new website that aims to quash fundraising myths goes live on March 18.

Launched in response to concerns about the lack of public understanding about how fundraising works, www.charityfacts.org will provide details on the various techniques charities use and why, information on charity performance figures and a guide to how these should be used and interpreted. The site will also outline best practices in fundraising and a FAQ section to dispel common misconceptions.

The website is led by Professor Adrian Sargeant of the Bristol Business School and is endorsed by the Institute of Fundraising. It is backed by The British Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, the NSPCC and the RSPCA.

Sarah Lyness, co-executive director of fundraising and marketing at Cancer Research UK, said: “Issues about public trust and confidence in charities and fundraising are of growing importance – and yet there is still a serious gap in the provision of accessible information about how large, modern charities fundraise. Cancer Research UK is keen to respond proactively to this challenge and we are very pleased to support charityfacts.org, which we hope will make a significant contribution to increasing public awareness of the how the voluntary sector works.”