Guidance

Charities: holding, moving and receiving funds safely

How charities can hold, move and receive funds in the UK and internationally using formal banking systems and other methods.

• From: The Charity Commission
• Published: 5 January 2011

Applies to England and Wales

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland

Documents

Chapter 4: Summary

Ref: Chapter 4: Summary - PDF

PDF, 461 KB, 9 pages

Chapter 4: Holding, moving and receiving funds safely in the UK and internationally

Ref: Chapter 4: Holding, moving and receiving funds safely in the UK and internationally - PDF

PDF, 903 KB, 30 pages

Chapter 4 Tool 1: Practical advice on operating bank accounts

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 1: Practical advice on operating bank accounts - PDF

PDF, 194 KB, 2 pages

Chapter 4 Tool 2: Checklist for donations received from outside the UK

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 2: Checklist for donations received from outside the UK - PDF

PDF, 173 KB, 1 page

Chapter 4 Tool 3: Using intermediaries - risk management checklist

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 3: Using intermediaries - risk management checklist - PDF

PDF, 215 KB, 2 pages

Chapter 4 Tool 4: Using intermediaries - financial controls checklist

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 4: Using intermediaries - financial controls checklist - PDF

PDF, 184 KB, 1 page

Chapter 4 Tool 5: Physical cash transfers - checklist of key controls

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 5: Physical cash transfers - checklist of key controls - PDF

PDF, 208 KB, 2 pages

Chapter 4 Tool 6: Cash courier agreement form

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 6: Cash courier agreement form - PDF

PDF, 182 KB, 1 page

Chapter 4 Tool 7: Cash payments record form

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 7: Cash payments record form - PDF

PDF, 171 KB, 1 page

Chapter 4 Tool 8: Using other charities or NGOs to transfer funds outside the UK - checklist

Ref: Chapter 4 Tool 8: Using other charities or NGOs to transfer funds outside the UK - checklist - PDF

PDF, 196 KB, 1 page

Details

Chapter 4 of the Commission’s Compliance toolkit, this guidance explains how charities can use formal banking systems wherever possible when holding, moving and receiving funds in the UK and internationally to ensure that charity funds are safeguarded.

It also covers working with other charities and NGOs and other more risky methods of moving funds, such as:

• money service businesses
• agents using alternative remittance systems
• payment services
• cash couriers

It gives practical advice for trustees on risk management factors and the need for appropriate financial controls and audit trails.

Published 5 January 2011