Party political purposes

Even if an organisation appears to have charitable purposes and provide public benefit, it cannot be a charity if:

• it is a political party, or
• one of its purposes is to advance a political party.

This does not stop charities from campaigning, lobbying or taking part in other political activity, as long as:

• this activity advances their charitable purposes
• the charity’s governing document does not prohibit this kind of activity
• the activity is not advancing a particular political party
• the charity trustees are acting in the charity’s interests, and with due care and diligence.

Campaigning, for example to change the law or the policy of public bodies, can be a charity’s main activity as long as it is advancing its charitable purposes,and political campaigning does not become a purpose in itself.

FAQs: charities and political campaigning