Non-party campaigners: UK Parliamentary general elections

Donations on behalf of others and from unidentified sources

Donations on behalf of others

If you are given a donation on behalf of someone else, the person giving you the donation (the agent) must tell you: 

  • that the donation is on behalf of someone else
  • the actual donor’s details1

If you think that someone might be acting as an agent, you should find out the facts so that you can make the right checks. If you are not sure who you should treat as the donor, please contact us for advice.

It is an offence if the agent fails to provide you with the actual donor’s details without a reasonable excuse.2

If you are unable to confirm who a donation of more than £500 is from, or that it is from a permissible source, you should record it and return it.3

Donations from unidentified sources

If any interest has been gained on the donation your organisation can keep it, as it is not treated as a donation.4

Please see What do you do if you receive a donation from an impermissible or unidentifiable source? for guidance on how to return a donation.

Last updated: 19 December 2023