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This guide to charity names ideas includes how to name a charity, search for a charity name, and check and register a company or charity name, including trademarks, sensitive words and expressions, and trading names, with links to regulatory guidance on charity names.
Thinking of starting a charity or non profit? You'll find everything you need in our free start-up toolbox.
Here are charity name ideas to take into consideration, when deciding on your charity name.
Having said that, there are many incredibly successful charities which have not followed my advice – except the legal bits, obviously. If those whom you wish to engage like your choice of name, ignore me.
Here is a simple charity name idea prompt for AI.
Please give me 12 charity name ideas for our UK charity that <does what?>, <how?>, <where?>, <for whom> that are short, simple, emotionally engaging and will perform well in organic online searches. It must not be the same or very similar to any other charity or company name, or similar to any well know brand or Trade Mark.
If you don't use AI, you can login, click the AI bunny icon, then his GPT Prompt button and he'll do it for you. AI is great for creating ideas but makes mistakes, so you should still check your favourite name idea, as outlined below.
Check that your charity name hasn’t been used by another registered charity and is allowable, and you also have to check this with Companies House for company names. You also need to check with Companies House for sensitive names, including fund, federation, friendly society, and co-operative and anything vaguely Government(ish), regulatory or Royal. If you use a sensitive name, the Commission may require a letter of non-objection; best avoided, unless it's important to you.
There's a check function in the Charity Commission England & Wales online charity registration application form for your name, but it hasn't always worked for me, so best to do it yourself to be sure. Use the Charity Commission register to search for a charity name. In Scotland, search using the OSCR charity register and in Northern Ireland use the CCNI charity register. For companies (including CICs) use the Companies House register search.
Many charities and non profits are not on a charity regulator register, so the search above may not identify these. Whilst they may not 'own' their name and your name may not be the same, it's good to make sure that using the charity name you've chosen won't cause any confusion for you and them. If a tiny charity on the other side of the country has a similar name that probably wouldn't cause any confusion but a big national or small but very local charity might. Equally, if your name contains very similar key words to the name or someone or something famous, you may find you won't come up in internet searches making you less likely to be found by people who may wish to donate or volunteer.
If your name is something that might be trademarked, you may wish to check this here. For example, the Aston Clinton Village Charity for the Destitute isn't likely to have been taken by anyone. However, more common or commercially valuable names potentially may be. For example, Golf Charity Cup is trademarked and there are 86 pages of others with 'Charity' in the title.
Your charity’s name must not be the same as or too similar to an existing registered organisation, such as a charity, non profit or company, and may not include anything offensive or be misleading.
Companies House ‘sensitive names' are words and expressions, which, when used in a charity or other company name need approval before the name can be registered or used.
You would need evidence that you have permission to use the name of a famous person or character, famous or copyrighted work, or trademarked or 'Royal' words. For example, the QPR Supporters Club Charity or the Taylor Swift Fan Club Charity.
Once you have registered with your charity regulator(s) you will own your charity name. In England and Wales that's the Charity Commission E&W, in Scotland it's OSCR and in Northern Ireland it's CCNI. Charitable Companies will also register with Companies House. CICs will register with Companies House and the CIC regulator. Other non profits may have other regulators, such as the FCA for mutual societies.
Your registered charity or company name is your 'official' name and will be on your constitution, certificate of incorporation etc and in the online register with your regulator(s). However, a charity or company may choose to not trade using this and may use a trading name instead. You may see this in it's literature, website etc as The Honourable Company of Clowns trading as The Clown Charity. If you use a trading name, you will need to include this in your charity registration application.
If you're changing your charity name rather than creating one for your start-up, here are some things to consider:
The Company Names Tribunal is administered by the UK Intellectual Property Office. You can file a complaint with regards the registration of a company name whose name is.
It is not necessary for the complainant to have a company registered under the Companies Act to file a complaint.
Charity Commission E&W
OSCR (Scotland) - charity law - objectionable names.
CCNI (Northern Ireland) - changing your charity's name.
Companies House
UK Intellectual Property Office - search for a trade mark name.
A registered charity ourselves, the CEF works for any non profit, not just charities.
Plus, 100+downloadable funder lists, 40+ policies, 8 online health checks and the huge resource base.
Quick, simple and very effective.
Find Funding, Free Help & Resources - Everything Is Free.
To access help and resources on anything to do with running a charity, including funding, click the AI Bunny icon in the bottom right of your screen and ask it short questions, including key words. Register, then login and the in-system AI Bunny is able to write funding bids and download 40+ charity policy templates as well.
This guide to charity names is for general interest only and does not constitute professional legal or financial advice. I'm neither a lawyer, nor an accountant, so not able to provide this, and I cannot write guidance that covers every charity or eventuality. I have included links to relevant regulatory guidance, which you must check to ensure that whatever you create reflects correctly your charity’s needs and your obligations. In using this resource, you accept that I have no responsibility whatsoever from any harm, loss or other detriment that may arise from your use of my work. If you need professional advice, you must seek this from someone else. To do so, register, then login and use the Help Finder directory to find pro bono support. Everything is free.
