The stated intention of the donor determines whether the income generated is allocated to the branch/serving community team/region or the national charity. This should be confirmed at the first point of contact or enquiry. The details of the supporter should be passed on either to the branch/ serving community team/region (usually via the regional team) or to NFT as appropriate. Keeping a note of conversations with supporters will avoid potential disagreements and ensure full and transparent disclosure of where funds will be used within SSAFA.

Network executive volunteers and the NFT are responsible for ensuring that all fundraising activities representing SSAFA, whether at local or national level, comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice as explained on the Fundraising Regulator’s website. The FMC specialist teams can organise training workshops for community engagement volunteers. Regional team managers should be contacted for advice and support on where to find guides on how to comply with the Code. Further support and information can be found on SSAFA’s SharePoint site and GoAssemble.

When NFT is hosting a large-scale ‘in aid of’ event, such as a fundraising dinner or corporate event, it will inform the relevant branch or SCT chair of its plans at the earliest opportunity. Similarly, when a public ‘In Aid of’ fundraising event is hosted by an external organisation on behalf of SSAFA, NFT will also inform the relevant chair and regional team at the earliest opportunity. In both cases, NFT may invite a representative from the local branch or SCT where appropriate.

If NFT is aware of fundraising activities to support SSAFA taking place within branch and SCT areas, it will inform the relevant branch/ serving community team/region at the earliest opportunity to manage any potential conflict that might compromise the branch/region’s own plans to raise money in its area, for example, professional Private Site Face-to-Face fundraising. The regional team should also share with NFT any planned and licensed fundraising activities in their local area, such as store or station collections, to ease potential conflicts with NFT’s existing supporters, corporate partners, or community fundraising activities.

When a supporter is generating income for the Network, this should be stated in fundraising materials and communications from the start of their activities. For example, fundraising pages on donation sites like JustGiving or Enthuse should clearly state the relationship with the branch, division, region, or SCT.  The Network will provide its supporters with fundraising materials, such as running vests, with guidance and help from the regional team.

When NFT engages with branch and SCT volunteers to help fundraise at events, the relevant NFT team will explain the terms and activities. Where, with prior agreement, this includes an opportunity to fundraise for their branch/ serving community team/region, the branch/SCT volunteers shall retain all monies generated through their own efforts, such as tin/bucket collections. Volunteers must clearly communicate with supporters that donations collected will support the branch’s or SCT’s local or regional charitable activities. The branch/SCT will be responsible for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by volunteers unless agreed otherwise in advance.

All sponsorship and Commercial Participation Agreements (CPAs) negotiated by the Network must be registered with the NFT Corporate Engagement team. Such agreements must comply with the relevant legislation (Charities Act 2016), which requires that legal contracts are approved and signed by an approved director of the charity or authorised member of staff.

Branches are encouraged to identify grant applications of up to £10,000 with local and regional charitable trusts and foundations. However, before submission, they should notify the Grants & Statutory Income Team to check for any existing relationship or planned approach to the funder that could create a conflict of interest. If funders ask for interim and final grant reports, the GSI team will aim to provide financial information, impact and evaluation figures, key messages, descriptions, and approved case studies where needed.

The NFT buys places for various challenge events each year, against which it sets income targets. The income generated from these places is credited to the NFT Events team. If the income generated exceeds the minimum sponsorship, then by prior agreement, it may be shared with a region, branch, or SCT if directed by the participant. Participants should confirm with the Events Team before taking part, in writing, why they wish excess funds to be shared with their branch/SCT/region. The request should be acknowledged/agreed in advance of the participant being awarded a place and not agreed retrospectively, unless by exception.

Every new corporate fundraising enquiry received by NFT will be account-managed by the Corporate Engagement team in the first instance. If the corporate partner wishes to support a specific local branch or SCT’s activities, or if the Corporate team feels it is more appropriate for the partnership to be managed by the Network, this will be discussed and agreed with the regional team.  In such cases, the relationship can be passed to the Network with support from the Corporate Engagement and regional teams. The Corporate team will provide each region with a list of current corporate partners to help focus their resources efficiently in the search for new supporters.

All new and existing branch/serving community team corporate/business partnerships should be registered with the Corporate Engagement team. When the Network engages with local or regional corporate partners directly, they are encouraged to first contact their regional team and the Head of Corporate Engagement for advice.