A sample group of 500 large charities are to be approached from this month by the Fundraising Regulator to take part in its research project into complaints they receive.

The research will look at complaints charities receive directly from the public about their fundraising activities between April this year and the end of March next year.

The fundings will be shared with other fundraisers, says the Regulator.

“By understanding more about complaints, we can all learn more about how fundraising for valuable and vital charitable causes can be made more effective,” said its policy specialist Claire Herbert in a blog post.

“Where certain fundraising approaches prove more challenging and provoke complaints, this research will help us and the sector better understand why.”

Charities are to be contacted by the regulator’s research partner BMG Research.

The regulator added: “Taking part is likely to be of particular interest to charity complaints, compliance or supporter relations teams so please encourage your staff to pass the invitation on to the most appropriate person when it arrives.”

Last year the regulator announced plans to develop its approach to collecting research to gather the views of more charities. This will also include gathering data from smaller charities.

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