Some people have asked for our view on the status of Charitable Soft Opt-In as we leave 2025 and head into 2026.
We are all waiting for the ICO to issue their final guidance following the now-closed consultation, before you can make any decisions and consider when to implement any changes. Until the ICO does this and gives a launch date, the current rules apply.
So what should happen in the new year? Firstly and most importantly, the ICO needs to issue its final guidance, perhaps amended in the light of the consultation. The Fundraising Regulator has indicated that they intend to publish a resource for charities wishing to use charitable soft opt-in for fundraising purposes (you can see their statement at https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/about-fundraising/resources/consultation-response-fundraising-regulator-ico-consultation).
So our advice remains unchanged. Sign up for the latest updates from the ICO and Fundraising Regulator, and check our insight newsletters. But no changes can be made until the final guidance is issued.