The Charities Regulator has urged all Irish charities to review their charity registration number use (RCN) in public communications. This is necessary as new legally binding requirements loom under the forthcoming Charities (Amendment) Act.
Charity registration number: RCN distorts from CHY number
The RCN serves as a unique identifier for every organisation listed on the Charities Regulator’s public register. The watchdog stresses that the number allows donors, funders, and the public to verify a charity’s status and access key information about its activities.
However, the regulator has highlighted ongoing public confusion between the RCN and the CHY number issued by Revenue. While the CHY number relates solely to tax purposes, it cannot identify a charity on the public register.
The RCN, by contrast, links directly to a charity’s official listing. It stands as a key tool for transparency and accountability.
Regulator advises immediate prep ahead of new charity rules
Under the anticipated legislative changes, the regulator will require charities to include specific details on all public-facing materials. These include a statement confirming registered status, the organisation’s official name as it appears on the register, and the RCN itself.
Public-facing materials cover a broad range of communications, including websites, email signatures, and stationery. It also includes fundraising and promotional items, social media profiles, and advertising across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
Although the new rules have not yet taken effect, the regulator advises charities to begin preparing immediately. The watchdog adds that organisations need not discard existing printed materials.
“They should update information as materials are reprinted or replaced and ensure all new communications carry the correct details.”
The regulator also encourages charities to make sure that staff, volunteers, trustees, and external partners fully understand the correct use of the RCN.
Meanwhile, starting a charity is a noble cause that allows the spread of kindness and impacts society on a transformative level. In the UK, one needs to decide on the charity’s legal structure before entering the registration requirements.