How to Make a Complaint

We’re committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment across the fundraising sector. If you have any concerns, experiences, or suggestions, we encourage you to get in touch.

This includes any concerns regarding the conduct of Chartered Institute staff, members, volunteers and other individuals attending Chartered Institute events as well as concerns about the Chartered Institute itself.  

 

Ways to report 

  • You can email us at Complaints@ciof.org.uk.  

  • Alternatively, if you wish to raise concerns completely anonymously, please use our Talk to Spot reporting tool. 

  • For membership, services and/or products, you may also contact our membership hub by emailing info@ciof.org.uk. 

All feedback is important and will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality. 

 

Who can make a complaint?

Anyone can raise a concern with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. We welcome feedback from all individuals and organisations.

 

Code of conduct

All individual members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising agree to abide by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising's Member Code of Conduct. 

All members, whether an individual or an organisation, must also abide by the Code of Fundraising Practice . 

 

Code of Behaviour at Chartered Institute events

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising is committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment for everyone involved in its events and training. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.  

The Code of Behaviour applies to anyone who engages with the Chartered Institute including, but not limited to, attendance at any qualifications, events, training courses, National, Regional and Special Interest Group activities and social media interactions.

 

Complaints and Disciplinary Rules

If you believe that a Member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising has breached the Code of Conduct or the Code of Behaviour , or you have concerns about their professional conduct, our complaint will be handled in line with our Complaints and Disciplinary Rules. 

 

Our progress and commitment to improvement

In 2025, we continued work to strengthen how concerns and complaints are handled across the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Following the Independent Review published in 2024, we have made substantial progress against its recommendations, including improving transparency, strengthening safeguarding processes, clarifying governance arrangements and making it easier for people to raise concerns.

We have also introduced clearer reporting routes, enhanced training and updated policies to help ensure complaints are handled fairly, sensitively and consistently.

You can read more about the progress we have made, the steps we are continuing to take, and our commitment to building a safe, respectful and professional environment in the Professional Conduct Committee Annual Report 2025.