Charity trustees beware: during an election period, charities must be extra careful to remain independent and impartial regarding political parties and candidates.
Whilst charities may legitimately carry out political activities ancillary to furthering their non-political charitable purposes, they cannot exist for political purposes and must be party neutral. Here are our top 3 tips for charity trustees:
Personal views
Ensure that trustees, staff and volunteers are aware of the need to avoid any implication that the charity endorses a candidate or supports a particular party. Especially for example a trustee or patron who is well-known (locally or nationally) with a high profile. Whilst everyone is entitled to have personal views, be mindful that it is easy for members of the public to confuse an individual’s personal views, with the charities that they represent.
Social media
It’s very quick and simple to “like” or share a post on social media, but charities (and their prominent people) should avoid doing so unless they are sure that the post is accurate. Unfortunately many social medial posts contain misinformation or political bias, which your charity should be wary of magnifying.
Policies
Whilst charities are permitted to campaign and support causes that further the charity’s purposes, the charity’s political neutrality and independence must be made clear. For example, supporting a particular policy that would benefit the charity’s purpose is ok, but it is not ok to support the party generally or endorse the candidate associated with it.
The Charity Commission’s guidance on political activity and campaigning is an essential resource during the run-up to the general election here.
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