The Dogs Trust......

leveller2911

Norbertsmum wrote: »

I agree, a donor should be informed, but by highlighting this a charity would be shooting it's self in the foot - people won't donate.

In an ideal world everyone would freely donate online and cut out the chugger-middleman. But whilst the public don't donate unless prompted to do so by the chugger........ I fear they are a necessary evil.

Theres a bigger picture to consider.Given the bad publicity Charities have had regarding this issue in the long run it could work against them. IMO many ,many people will not bother donating because they believe Charities are not honest and their money isn't well spent.
Its the small Charities I feel sorry for as they will be tarred with the same brush so I will give money to the small local Charities where I can see the difference the money makes.......

Bueller

Have to say, I think Norbertsmum has hit the nail on the head here. It looks like Dogs Trust spend money on fundraising and get a very good return on it (I'd like 300% return on my savings please Mr HSBC!!!!).

I should put my cards on the table and say I have a lovely Lurcher from Dogs Trust, who was a stray from Scotland, and was on her 7th day as a stray, and would have been killed if it wasn't for Dogs Trust, who saved her and brought her down to Newbury. As an ex-stray she was a nightmare (see my ebay purchase of a replacement Wii remote, Wii sensor, GHD hair straighteners, and Sky remote for proof!!) , but after lots of patience, and free advice from Dogs Trust about her diet and how to help her relax, she has settled down, and we haven't had anything chewed for 6months now. From my point of view, if Dogs Trust's work with chuggers can help even one more dog like Fern, it's money VERY well spent. She's worth millions to us!!!

I agree with what Levellers saying though, charities should be honest with their donors, but I have to say i think Dogs Trust have been pretty up front to be honest in their messages. Of course it costs to be on TV or in the papers or put people out shaking tins, and I think anyone who thinks it's free is probably being a bit naive.

Just out of interest, to Almond and Leveller, did you only donate to Dogs Trust after speaking to a chugger? I know we all would love to give more money to charity, but if you are like me, I have 2 I give to by Direct Debit each month (one since I was 16 and working in a supermarket), and I only give otherwise it it's a frined raising money (usually via a run), or if I'm dropping coins in a buckets. Maybe this is why it works for charities?

almond

hi bueller
I have giving to dogs trust in one way or another for years. I did the dd for my daughters birthday present since she said she would rather the money go to dogs trust then her (she did get a present as well) I think the work they do is brill but it would have been nice for them to be upfront and explain what happens to the money. I remember making some coats for them with my friends little girl and seeing the dogs wearing them on bbc1 a few years ago when they did a programme on dogs trust. I have never felt so proud but this has really upset me from now on the money will stay in a box and be taken up when i visit.

leveller2911

Had a phone call at work today from Laurier Nicas from the Dog Trust regarding my issues with the fundraising.She introduced herself and promptly put me through to a chap called Chris. Chris explained why the Trust employs PRF and to his credit did his best to say why they need to employ them.He also admitted that the Trust should be more honest and open regarding the payments made to these companies with regards to face to face subscriptions.

With regards to Pell & Bales the company highlighted by Fantasia apparently they haven't been employed by the Trust for telephone marketing for around 3 years although they still have a link to the Trust on their homepage.

The Company that signed me up was called Giraffe (not sure of the spelling) who the Trust employed for a contract of 6 months.In that 6 months they were expected to get the Trust monthly direct Debit subscriptions for around £90,000 per month.For this they were paid £20,000 per month.We can all have our opinions but for me paying someone £20,000 per month just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Apparenlt the Trust no longer employ the company because they were not happy with the way in which the company was acting(don't ask me why as I couldn't find out).

My last question was about paying 2 employees over £110,000 per year, Chris wasn't sure who they were but suspected one of them was the Chief executive.He justified the amount by saying that the Trust needed to employ "top people" to take the Trust forward.Personally I don't believe anyone working for a Charity should get paid over £110,000 per year . Chris did say about the proposed investment in more re-homing places and renovating some of the older homes. He also said about the Trusts work abroad such as Romania and Eire, FWIW I think they should concentrate on their work in the UK and when the work here completed then go around the world.

Overall nice chap but for me I will be setting up a monthly DD to a small independant Pet rescue as I believe my money will go directly to where its needed and not to fund the high wages of the people at the top or Professional fundraising Companies. I will also take a look at Pell & Bales website and look at the other Charities who use them and at least one other Charity will no longer get my backing..

Chris who is in charge of Donar recruitment at the Trust has given me his direct phone number and has asked if anyone would like to contact him to discuss the fundraising to give him a call so PM me for his number.

Gertie_Walker

I support what you say, sam. Giving to charity is no different to buying something. You shop around for exactly the item you want - right size, colour, price - and then you buy the item which suits your needs. Giving to charity is the same - you decide what cause is close to your heart and which organisation is making the most difference in that area and then you donate, using all the info available. No one should ever feel guilty about not donating to any particular cause, or indeed any cause.
[I am a professional fundraiser]

Savvy_Sue

There are nice and nasty people in all works of life. One of my colleagues used to do face to face fundraising, and clearly didn't enjoy the experience, but it paid the rent. Doesn't stop them doing a fine job of fundraising and PR at the charity I work for.

It doesn't sound as if you have much time for your 'friend' for reasons other than his comments on his life as a chugger, so perhaps it is time for you to move on from him.

Fedz

I don't particularly like the use of chuggers but, in all honesty volunteers can and often are unreliable, charities realised this & up sprang professional paid charity street works!

In essence it's no worse than advertising on TV. Does the channel care about the charity. Does the channel & all it's connected employees have great moral & ethical standards personal & or professional. The channel bosses & employees how much do they get paid. The profit from charities advertising on the programmes & or channels ...

You have to speculate to accumulate & most charities want to dominate their area. It's a double edged sword!

lincroft1710

Fedz wrote: »

I don't particularly like the use of chuggers but, in all honesty volunteers can and often are unreliable

But some (maybe many) are not and many, many charities would be sunk without them.

At least with TV advertising it will cease after 30 seconds, won't ask you for your bank account and won't be abusive if you say no.

Fedz

lincroft1710 wrote: »

But some (maybe many) are not and many, many charities would be sunk without them.

At least with TV advertising it will cease after 30 seconds, won't ask you for your bank account and won't be abusive if you say no.

I was replying to the posts that chuggers don't care about the charity they're collecting for & the fact is neither do TV advertisers - they do it for the money revenue same as chuggers

Oh yeah I understand that. Volunteers have their deeply appreciated role but, it is a fact charities also require a back-up, something more stable, reliable they can call on as a different xtra means to raising 'essential' funding & chuggers fit the bill

Again TV is a another medium - they have to use a blend of them all basically to get the maximum effect

leveller2911

My major concern is the TOTAL lack of clarity and honesty.At no point was I told the fact that the charity do NOT make any money from my donation until the Pro fundraisers have taken their full cut.

The Dogs Trust at NO time told me that they paid the PFR or how much. If the Dogs Trust are going to behave like big business(ie treat their customers like naive mugs) then lets have some transparancy when signing up.

The keyword is HONESTY , so that Jo Public can make an informed choice.....