Not as easy as it looks

To many people - perhaps to you? - fundraising looks like child's play and you'll often see angry tweets and letters to the papers challenging why charities should be allowed to spend donor's hard earned cash on fundraisers. Sadly some well-intentioned people found after the recent London and Manchester terrorist attacks that it's not as easy as it looks.

From floods to tragic accidents and people in desperate situations, the natural desire by people to want to help in some way is wonderful to see. But you need to know what you're doing otherwise it's the law - as well as online trolls - who are going to make you regret getting involved...not to mention the threat of fraudsters posing as fundraisers. Michael Johns now says he regrets raising ￡52,000 to support a homeless man who helped victims of the Manchester Arena attack. It makes me sad to read this BBC piece listing so many examples of people who found fundraising isn't as easy as it looks; we want these good-hearted people to be able to channel their best intentions and not be put off fundraising for ever.

That's why Community Foundations must get better known in the UK so more people can use us to fundraise - like the Dan Hickey Fund and the Raj K Soni Fund - which are both holding fantastic fundraising events this weekend to commemorate these young lives cut short.

Don't reinvent the wheel if you want to fundraise - use your nearest Community Foundation to help you.