The formation of the FPS was one recommendation that came out of a government-commissioned review led last year by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
The FPS Working Group was set up last December and the group published its report of recommendations for the FPS last month.
The Fundraising Regulator has followed this by summarising its main proposed arrangements for the FPS, based on the recommendations made by the FPS Working Group. The proposals cover all methods of communication, including mailings and phone calls.
One key proposal is that the FPS applies to charities spending £100,000 a year or more on fundraising, though there will be no barrier to smaller charities signing up to use the service, in order to demonstrate their commitment to best practice.
The proposals also recommend limiting the ability to register a vulnerable third-party member to those with power of attorney or the equivalent, to make certain that appropriate safeguards are in place for a legitimate decision to be made.
The service will also enable consumers to choose which charities they do not want to hear from, rather than having only one option to end communications from all charities. The Fundraising Regulator said the FPS aims to give the consumer as much control as possible, while keeping it efficient for charities to use.
The print impact of the new proposals is most likely to be felt by firms that produce charity mailings, if the proposals have a direct effect on the volume of direct mail being produced.
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) said it has worked closely with the new regulator to discuss what the FPS might look like.
John Mitchison, head of preference services, compliance and legal at the DMA, and a member of the FPS Working Group, said: “The creation of this new preference service for fundraising puts the supporter back in control with the least amount of impact on the charity.
“The future success of the sector requires supporters are always put at the heart of all charitable efforts, recognising that they are an integral part of the organisation and that what is right for them is ultimately best for your organisation and its beneficiaries.”
Fundraising Regulator head of policy Gerald Oppenheim added: “The Fundraising Regulator is guided by the principle that it should be as simple as possible for individuals to manage their communications with fundraisers and we are confident that these proposals achieve that in a way that is fair for all.”
The regulator is seeking feedback on the proposals by 30 September 2016 and the FPS will be developed for launch in 2017.
