The purpose of this survey is to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the experience of UK charities in the face of enhanced scrutiny by banks and governments in recent years. This scrutiny has been known to affect international payments by charities, in particular payments to ‘high risk areas’ those areas under sanctioning clauses, dealing with complex emergencies (such as conflict), and, or where terrorist or proscribed groups are known to operate.

This survey should be answered by those working in charities that transfer money abroad and are responsible for the handling of such funds; typically a finance or operations manager.

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* 1. What is the gross income of your charity?

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* 2. What type of overseas aid does your charity provide? (Tick all that apply)

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* 3. Are you a faith based organisation?

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* 4. Areas of program operation (Check all that apply)

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* 5. What kind of cross border assistance do you provide?

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* 6. Do you have activities in areas that are under sanctioning clauses dealing with complex emergencies (such as conflict), and/or where terrorist or proscribed groups are known to operate?

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* 7. Yes (If yes to the previous question, please indicate location (by country or region, more specific is more helpful) and the nature of the activity (e.g. running programs or the provision of funding)

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* 8. In particular do you operate in any of the following countries? Please give an indication of the proportion of your work that activities in these countries represent.

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* 9. Have you experienced any of the following problems within the last twelve months?

If YES for any of these please describe the country the money was intended for and the impact that this has had on your charity in terms of programmatic impact and the administrative costs associated with dealing with the problems.

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* 10. Has your bank indicated any concerns with regard to financial transactions, end use of funds, provenance of funds or any other concerns with regard to money laundering, bribery, counter terrorism or sanctions regimes? (Please describe the situation is as much detail as possible below including the country, the bank's approach and your response)

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* 11. When working with banks to make payments to areas of high risk to what extent do you undertake the following. Please provide any detail you think is helpful to understand the due diligence processes being undertaken by charities and banks.

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* 12. Have you developed measures with external parters (e.g. your bank) specifically designed to prevent abuse of your transactions to 'high risk' areas from money laundering (areas under sanctioning clauses, dealing with complex emergencies (such as conflict), and, or where terrorist or proscribed groups are known to operate).

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* 13. In your opinion are banks becoming more or less risk averse in their dealings with your organisation?

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* 14. Please give examples of reasons given by banks for any changes in their attitude to risk with your organisation

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* 15. Have you ever sought licenses to authorise certain dealings with persons on the asset freeze list from HM Treasury?

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* 16. Has any changes in banking practices led to increased costs for your organisation when making international transactions?

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* 17. Have you experienced any of the following problems due to concerns over compliance with sanctions? If yes, please describe: where was the money intended to go the impact that this has had on your programs where possible in terms of costs and ability to carry out charitable mission

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* 18. Where you have been unable to access the formal banking sector for making overseas transactions, please describe the alternative methods that you have used to make these transactions (e.g. using Money Services Businesses, cash couriers or other methods); please describe the frequency with which you are required to use these alternative methods? Are you more likely to use alternative methods when working in a particular country or area?

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* 19. CFG are keen to gather more information and case studies from affected charities. If you are interested in being contacted to describe your charity's experience with these issues in more detail, then please enter your email address and contact name below.

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