The Code for Commercial Fund-raisers incorporates both legislative requirements and professional standards with the COC expects commercial fund-raisers to adhere to. All legislative requirements are mandatory, and breach of these requirements will be subject to penalties as prescribed in the respective legislation.

All fund-raising appeals conducted in Singapore for charitable, benevolent and philanthropic purposes including those for overseas charitable purposes are regulated under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012

Commercial fund-raisers who subscribe to the Code for Commercial Fund-raisers will also have to co-operate with the COC on the conduct of periodic audits to ensure they are in accordance with the Code. In addition, its name will be published on the Charity Portal. Conversely, should there be a breach, the Commercial Fund-raiser will be removed from the list and the areas which have been breached may be stated on the website.