Charities will have to come together to take action on the climate emergency, following a new declaration from the leading charity fundraising body.

In a letter to Institute of Fundraising members, Peter Lewis chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising announced a set of actions for the membership body to tackle the climate emergency.

After consulting with members, including a roundtable on fundraising and the environment, the IoF’s Board of Trustees approved a series of eight commitments for the Institute.

The commitments include providing more support to our members on stepping away from partnerships if they have environmental concerns and collaborating with the charity sector for a stronger voice.

With the environmental stakes higher than ever before, Peter Lewis announced that “we all have a responsibility to deliver change”.

He continued:

As fundraisers we have specific opportunities to make essential change. Whether it’s in the choices we make on how we fundraise, the donations we accept or refuse, or through the engagement we have with millions of people who support and donate to charities, we can be part of the of the change that’s needed. Each of our solutions might be different but one thing is clear: business as usual is not an option.

Detailed commitments include:

• Establishing a task-group of environmentally committed and expert members who will consult with members and suppliers and guide the sector on policy change and action.
• Renewing and refreshing guidance to ensure that it includes the latest and most useful resources to help fundraisers improve their environmental impact.
• Providing more support to our members on when they can refuse donations, and step away from partnerships, when they have environmental concerns.
• Working with the Fundraising Regulator to review any changes needed to the Code of Fundraising Practice on environmental fundraising practices and issues.

The pledges are backed up by updated environmental policy for IoF’s events and conferences and a pledge to make the packaging around Fundraising Magazine more environmentally-friendly.