How to check a charity is legitimate in the UK before you give
Most appeals are genuine, but a few minutes of checking protects your money and helps good organisations stand out. Here is what to look for, including when you look at us.
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The short answer
To check a UK charity, search its name or number on the Charity Commission register (England and Wales), OSCR (Scotland) or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Look at its accounts, trustees and purpose, check its website and contact details, and be wary of pressure, vague claims or requests for unusual payment methods. Organisations with an annual income under £5,000 are not required to register.
Key points
- Search the official charity registers for the right part of the UK.
- Charities in England and Wales must register once income reaches £5,000 a year (CIOs always register).
- Look at accounts, trustees and stated purpose, not just the logo.
- Be cautious about pressure, urgency and unusual payment methods.
- Report suspected fraud to Action Fraud.
Generosity deserves protecting. The vast majority of appeals you see are genuine, but a quick check before you give means your money reaches the people you meant to help, and it rewards the organisations doing things properly.
We are writing this as a new organisation that is not yet a registered charity, so we have a particular interest in being clear about what the checks mean and what they do not.
1. Search the official register
Every part of the UK has its own charity regulator with a free public register:
- England and Wales: the Charity Commission register (opens in a new tab).
- Scotland: the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) (opens in a new tab).
- Northern Ireland: the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab).
Search by name or registered number. The entry shows the charity's purpose, trustees, recent income and spending, and whether its accounts are up to date.
2. Read beyond the headline
A registered number is a starting point, not a guarantee of quality. Spend a minute on the details:
- Does the stated purpose match what the appeal is asking for?
- Are the accounts filed on time, and does the spending look sensible for the size of the organisation?
- Is there a real address and a way to contact a person?
- Does the organisation explain how it chooses projects and measures what they achieve?
3. Check fundraising standards
The Fundraising Regulator (opens in a new tab) sets the Code of Fundraising Practice for UK charities and handles complaints about fundraising. Many organisations display its registration badge. If you have a concern about how you were asked for money, you can raise it with the charity first and then with the regulator.
4. Know the warning signs
- Pressure to give immediately, or emotional urgency that stops you thinking.
- Requests to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or bank transfer to a personal account.
- Websites that closely copy a well-known charity's name or branding.
- Vague claims with no detail about where the money goes.
- Collectors who cannot show identification or a permit, where one is required.
If you think you have come across a scam, report it to Action Fraud (opens in a new tab), the UK's national reporting centre for fraud.
5. Ask good questions
Good organisations welcome questions. Ask what your gift will fund, who delivers the work, how they will report back, and what happens if they raise more or less than they need. Clear, honest answers are one of the best signs of trust.
Applying this to us
In the spirit of this guide: The Light Of God is being established in London and is not yet registered with the Charity Commission. We do not have a charity number and cannot claim Gift Aid yet. Our first campaign aims to raise £5,000 for clean water through an experienced partner, which we have not selected yet. We have committed to publishing where every pound goes. You can read exactly where we stand on our transparency page.
Questions people ask
How do I check if a charity is registered in the UK?
Search its name or number on the Charity Commission register for England and Wales, the OSCR register for Scotland, or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland register.
Do all charities have to be registered?
No. In England and Wales, charities must register once their income is at least £5,000 a year, or if they are a charitable incorporated organisation. Some smaller or newly forming groups are not yet registered.
Where do I report a charity scam?
Report suspected fraud to Action Fraud. If your concern is about a registered charity's conduct, you can also contact the relevant charity regulator.
Is The Light Of God a registered charity?
Not yet. The Light Of God is currently being established and is not yet registered with the Charity Commission. We say this clearly on every page and will update it when registration is complete.
Sources
- Register of charities, Charity Commission for England and Wales
- Set up a charity: register your charity, GOV.UK
- Code of Fundraising Practice, Fundraising Regulator
- Scottish Charity Regulator, OSCR
- Report fraud, Action Fraud
Last reviewed . Spotted something out of date? Tell us through our contact page.
