How many charities are registered in Jersey, and who registers them?
Jersey has 381 registered charities tracked by GiveRadar, all carrying a Jersey Charity Number. This is a small but genuine charity register covering nonprofits, non-profit organizations, foundations and associations serving health, children, animals, education, community and hospice causes.
The Jersey Charity Commissioner is the independent regulator and keeps the public Register of Charities (charitycommissioner.je). The office was established as a corporation sole under the Charities (Jersey) Law 2014 (jerseylaw.je).
Jersey is a self-governing Crown Dependency with its own legal and tax systems, not part of the United Kingdom (londonoffice.gov.je). Its charities are therefore registered by Jersey's own regulator, separately from UK charity regulators.
What is a registered Jersey charity, and how does the charity test work?
A registered Jersey charity is an entity entered in the register after satisfying Jersey's charity test. Its purposes must be charitable, apart from anything purely ancillary or incidental, and it must provide or intend to provide public benefit in Jersey or elsewhere to a reasonable degree (jerseylaw.je).
Entry in the General Section identifies ordinary public charities. The Restricted Section covers charities that do not solicit the general public, with some details withheld. The Historic Section lists deregistered charities, so an historic entry is not evidence of current registration (charitycommissioner.je).
How do you register a charity with the Jersey Charity Commissioner?
Jersey requires an eligible organization to apply to the Commissioner, demonstrate charitable purposes and public benefit, and be entered in the register. Successful applicants receive a Jersey Charity Number. Registration is a status, not one legal structure, so trusts, companies, associations, foundations and other eligible bodies can apply.
A distinctive Jersey Foundation may be formed under the Foundations law, but foundation status alone does not make it charitable. It must separately pass the charity test and obtain registration (charitycommissioner.je). Registered charities also file an annual return containing core financial information and a public benefit narrative.
How do you check a Jersey charity before you donate?
Jersey donors should verify the charity directly against the Commissioner's public register before giving. A familiar name, website or fundraising appeal is not a substitute for checking current status, stated purposes and filing information.
- Search the Jersey charity register by organization name or Jersey Charity Number at charitycommissioner.je.
- Confirm that the nonprofit appears in the General or Restricted Section, rather than the Historic Section.
- Review its charitable purposes, public benefit information, selected financial details and latest annual return status.
- Compare its official contact details with the website, email, payment page or fundraising message you received.
How can you donate to charities and causes in Jersey?
Jersey residents can donate directly to verified registered charities supporting local and international causes. Start with the register, then explore organizations working in health, children's services, animal welfare, education, community development or hospice care through GiveRadar's country directory and Jersey health charities.
- Choose a cause and compare registered charities through their purposes, public benefit and available contact information.
- Verify the Jersey Charity Number and current register section before entering payment details.
- Donate through the charity's confirmed website or another payment method published in its official contact information.
- Ask whether your gift qualifies for Jersey tax support, then check the applicable donor conditions with Revenue Jersey (gov.je).
- Keep your receipt and review GiveRadar's methodology and donor guidance for further checks.