Trust is something you write down

This week's three pieces share one idea: trust in giving is not a feeling, it is a record you keep and can show.

The UK's fundraising regulator asks charities to decide on crypto in writing

On 16 October the Fundraising Regulator published a Crypto Fundraising Guide for UK charities. It asks trustees to make a deliberate decision on whether to accept crypto before any gift arrives, to check third-party donation platforms, and to watch for gifts linked to financial crime or sanctioned people. Because donor anonymity can make the source of funds hard to trace, it says charities should document their risk assessments in writing.

Why it matters to us: Oriel is being built for people who give with digital assets, so we plan to write our own crypto gift policy, with source-of-funds checks, and publish it before we accept a single donation.

Source: Civil Society, 19 October 2026

Americans trust nonprofits far more than "philanthropy"

Independent Sector's seventh annual study with Edelman Data & Intelligence, based on a survey of 3,000 US adults, puts trust in nonprofits at 56% and trust in philanthropy at just 29%, down four points in a year. Human service organisations are the most trusted kind of nonprofit, at 67%.

Why it matters to us: people trust the work they can see more than the money behind it. A foundation earns trust by showing where each gift goes and what it did, which is why we will keep a public ledger from day one.

Source: The NonProfit Times, 23 July 2026

A short code of conduct for volunteers

At an online workshop on 27 October, the Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work set out the values and limits of good volunteering. Among the things volunteers should not do: share images of the people they serve without permission, or use volunteering for personal gain. Organisations, in turn, owe volunteers training, coaching and feedback.

Why it matters to us: we plan one field trip each quarter. Before anyone travels with us, they will be briefed on our safeguarding rules, and no child's photo will be shared without a guardian's consent.

Source: Sharjah24, 27 October 2026