We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
To start a charity you need trustees, to choose a business structure, decide suitable charitable purposes and you may have to register with the Charity Commission
There are 6 steps to setting up a charity. Find trustees for your charity…
Your charity must have ‘charitable purposes’ that help the public (known…
The official name of your charity is known as its ‘main name’. Your…
You must choose a structure for your charity, which will affect things…
You must create a ‘governing document’ (or ‘rulebook’) for your charity…
You must apply to register your charity if both: its income is at least…
Decide whether to set up a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), a charitable company or an unincorporated association or trust.
How to manage and review your charity's connection to a non-charity.
Tax exemptions and reliefs for charities - apply for recognition by HMRC as a charity, reclaim tax on Gift Aid, profits and expenditure
Search the charity register to find details of registered charities in England and Wales including contact information, activities, latest financial reports and current trustees.
You can start to raise funds for your charity once you have your governing document and trustees in place.
How to set up a charity: find trustees, choose a name and structure, create a governing document, meet the public benefit requirement, register your charity.
We register and regulate charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. The Charity Commission is a non-ministerial department.
How to register your charity once it has been set up, what you need before you start your application and what happens after you apply.
Find out what trustees need to do before deciding whether to make a grant to an organisation that isn’t a charity.
Find out about the rules you must follow to govern your charity.
How to change your charity structure, for example from unincorporated to a CIO or charitable company.
Find out what it means to be a charity and what to do if setting up a charity is the right option for you.
Choose a unique name that people will remember when they want to make a donation or to volunteer.
Charity Commission guidance about a phased timetable allowing charitable companies to convert to charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
How to set out your charity's purposes and rules in its governing document, how to start using it and how to change it.
Before you start to set up a charity make sure that you know it is the best option for what you want to do.
How to close a charity, and what to tell the Charity Commission when you have closed the charity.
Guidance about working in collaboration with other charities.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.