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Face-to-face fundrasing
I noticed that there isn't a thread on this, and I used to do it for a while, and also telephone fundraising. So I think that some of the information here might be of some interest.
I'm not promoting F2F fundraising, I just want to clear up some common misconceptions. How you donate to charity - or if indeed you decide to at all - is your own affair, and I don't want to promote one form of it over another.
Why do the charities do it?
That's the question that everybody asks. The popular conception is that face-to-face fundraisers are paid a whopping great big salary, and that none of the money goes to the charity.
That's not quite true. The directors usually are raking it in - it's a very profitible business. The people on the street talking to you generally don't. When I was doing it in Manchester, I was paid £6 per hour for a 40 hour week, taking home about £180 a week after deductions. In London, it's about £7 an hour, which is about £220 a week after deductions. Factor in travel costs (which are paid by the fundraiser themselves) and you're not left with much.
Under the Institute of Fundraising regulations (a voulentry code), fundraisers must be paid a set amount every hour reguardless of how much they bring in. Comission is speficially banned.
The charities do it for three key reasons:
They're prepared to put up with the bad rep F2F gets because, ultimatly, it works.
How much does the charity get?
Actually, it's more than you think. Most people seem to think that the fundraising company gets fixed percentage of all donations, and that the money you donate goes to the company and not the charity.
This isn't the case.
What actually happens is that a charity will pay an upfront fee, and will expect a number of donors, giving an average gift, in a specified amount of time.
A gift is worked out per annum. So, for example, if someone signs up for, say, £7 a month, this is considered to be a gift of £87. The charity gets all of this, because they've paid upfront.
Why are chuggers everywhere?
Well, they're not. F2F (I hate the word 'chugger' - more on that in a bit) is not just self-regulated, there are some laws attached, too. F2F agencies have to register with the local council as to what areas they plan on going to. No more than one agency can be in a specific area at any time, and they cannot use an area more than once a week.
Note that this only applies to agencies, not to the charities themselves, and charities will use more than one agency.
You said you don't like the word 'chugger'. Don't be such a bleeding heart liberal...
The reason why I don't like 'chugger' is because it's highly perogrative towards the people doing it. Whether or not you like them, or think they are doing a good job or a bad job, they are people at the end of the day, earning a living, and they at least deserve some respect.
So, why do they - the fundraisers - do it, then?
There are a variety of reasons, and everyone does it for different reasons.
The reason I did it was purely economic - I was made redundant and was signing on, I'd been on it for three months (this was in January when people are generally looking for jobs and so it gets quite tough) and it came up. Six quid an hour, gets me off the dole, don't need much experience (I was 18 and the job I was made redundant from was the first one out of sixth form); yes please, I'll have some of that.
But fundraising is actually quite a flexible job. Most of the people who I was working with were either students or travellers here on a working holiday. There were also jobbing actors, singers etc doing it to pay the rent until they made it big. Most do it part time.
Even at just £6 an hour, it pays more than working at McDonalds. Most do it because they believe that they're trying to do some good for the world. There is a lot of altrusim amongst fundraisers - when you've been out in the pouring rain for three hours, having signed up zero people and only had a few conversations, it can be the only thing which keeps you going. And sane.
What can fundraisers do/say, and what can't they do/say?
They CANNOT:
- Hassle you. If you say no, you mean no.
- Block your path. It constitutes obstruction of the highway, which is an offence.
- Chase after you.
- Take your credit card details - it has to be bank details. This is for your benefit rather than theirs; there is only so much someone can do with your sort code and account number, but obviously there is a lot they can do with your CC number.
- Lie. Obviously. (If you think that they're just whiling away some pre-learned spiel, they are - scripting means that what they are telling you is generally correct and it avoids a whole plethora of problems)
They CAN:
- Insist they fill out the DD form for you. This is also for your own benefit; if there are any mistakes, it means that they are responsible, not you.
They HAVE TO:
- Tell you they are being paid, but ONLY IF they have asked for money. If they don't ask for any money, then technically they don't have to, but many agencies encourage fundraisers to disclose anyway.
The disclosure usually goes something like:
I just have to let you know that I'm part of a team, and that we're being paid a set fee to speak to you today.
... though it may vary from charity to charity. If you ask them how much they personally are being paid, then they have the right not to tell you - that's a confidential matter for the fundraiser themselves (plus, generally it's just rude to ask a complete stranger how much they earn.) In any case, I've said what the going rate is from when I did it (about three years ago) and I doubt it has massively increased. (I got asked about it a lot and it made me quite irate.)
- Let you have a copy of the form. Usually, the form itself is in triplicate. Two copies go to the charity, and one is for your own records. (None are kept by the agency itself, though they may go to the agency HQ for processing.) The form itself will usually have personal information fields (name, address, tel, email etc) contact preference fields (Is it Ok for ust to contact you by...), the Direct Debit mandate, which apart from your account details will have the DD gurentee and the originator's code. It should also have the fundraiser's name (doesn't have to be their full name but most agencies usually encourage fundraisers to put their full name - I always did), their employee number, the date and the place where you signed up. Most - but not all* - will also have a GiftAid decleration. If you pay enough income or capital gains tax, then do it - it makes your gift worth 28% more to the charity at no extra cost to yourself.
* Some organisations like Greenpeace and Amnesty International use F2F, but since they are not charities [because they have what the Charity Commission deems to be 'political aims'] they do not qualify for Gift Aid.
- Have ID. Most agencies these days give their fundraisers photo ID.
- Give you the charity number, HQ address, and supporter's services telephone number upon request. (This info is always on the form so they should have it to hand.)
Should I give to a fundraiser?
It's up to you. The money you give to a F2F fundraiser goes straight to the charity. There are always going to be costs in fundraising - you've got to speculate to accumulate. The charities themselves get a great return on their investment by F2F fundraising, and people give for a long time.
If you don't want to do it with a fundraiser, then you can always contact the charity direct and set it up with them. Some, like Cancer Research UK, have secure websites where you can give your details and set it up online. Others will be happy to send you a form.
One last thing - as I said, F2F fundraising is hard work, and not that brilliantly paid. Fundraisers are also under pressure to meet targets. If you don't want to talk to them, fair enough, no problem, but please be polite and friendly. I got a fair bit of abuse from members of the public as did others, and it broke some of us, including me - the job made me depressed for a while until I quit in dispair. (I sold store cards afterwards and people were clamouring to speak to me.) One particularly lovely incident was when a rather agressive gentlemen stood toe to toe with me and shouted at me, telling me how I was scum, robbing money of charities etc.
Please remember - fundraisers are people to. A quick smile and a 'no, thank you' is all it takes.
I'm not promoting F2F fundraising, I just want to clear up some common misconceptions. How you donate to charity - or if indeed you decide to at all - is your own affair, and I don't want to promote one form of it over another.
Why do the charities do it?
That's the question that everybody asks. The popular conception is that face-to-face fundraisers are paid a whopping great big salary, and that none of the money goes to the charity.
That's not quite true. The directors usually are raking it in - it's a very profitible business. The people on the street talking to you generally don't. When I was doing it in Manchester, I was paid £6 per hour for a 40 hour week, taking home about £180 a week after deductions. In London, it's about £7 an hour, which is about £220 a week after deductions. Factor in travel costs (which are paid by the fundraiser themselves) and you're not left with much.
Under the Institute of Fundraising regulations (a voulentry code), fundraisers must be paid a set amount every hour reguardless of how much they bring in. Comission is speficially banned.
The charities do it for three key reasons:
- They get a regular income. For all charities, this is vital - one off gifts are good, but the ability to plan their finances means that their resources can be used in a far more efficient way, meaning that they can do a lot more.
- Someone who signs up with a F2F fundraiser will give for an average of five years. It adds up.
- Even if the supporter doesn't sign up to regular giving on the spot, it still promotes the charity and raises the profile of the charity much more effectively than advertising - and usually for a lot less.
They're prepared to put up with the bad rep F2F gets because, ultimatly, it works.
How much does the charity get?
Actually, it's more than you think. Most people seem to think that the fundraising company gets fixed percentage of all donations, and that the money you donate goes to the company and not the charity.
This isn't the case.
What actually happens is that a charity will pay an upfront fee, and will expect a number of donors, giving an average gift, in a specified amount of time.
A gift is worked out per annum. So, for example, if someone signs up for, say, £7 a month, this is considered to be a gift of £87. The charity gets all of this, because they've paid upfront.
Why are chuggers everywhere?
Well, they're not. F2F (I hate the word 'chugger' - more on that in a bit) is not just self-regulated, there are some laws attached, too. F2F agencies have to register with the local council as to what areas they plan on going to. No more than one agency can be in a specific area at any time, and they cannot use an area more than once a week.
Note that this only applies to agencies, not to the charities themselves, and charities will use more than one agency.
You said you don't like the word 'chugger'. Don't be such a bleeding heart liberal...
The reason why I don't like 'chugger' is because it's highly perogrative towards the people doing it. Whether or not you like them, or think they are doing a good job or a bad job, they are people at the end of the day, earning a living, and they at least deserve some respect.
So, why do they - the fundraisers - do it, then?
There are a variety of reasons, and everyone does it for different reasons.
The reason I did it was purely economic - I was made redundant and was signing on, I'd been on it for three months (this was in January when people are generally looking for jobs and so it gets quite tough) and it came up. Six quid an hour, gets me off the dole, don't need much experience (I was 18 and the job I was made redundant from was the first one out of sixth form); yes please, I'll have some of that.
But fundraising is actually quite a flexible job. Most of the people who I was working with were either students or travellers here on a working holiday. There were also jobbing actors, singers etc doing it to pay the rent until they made it big. Most do it part time.
Even at just £6 an hour, it pays more than working at McDonalds. Most do it because they believe that they're trying to do some good for the world. There is a lot of altrusim amongst fundraisers - when you've been out in the pouring rain for three hours, having signed up zero people and only had a few conversations, it can be the only thing which keeps you going. And sane.
What can fundraisers do/say, and what can't they do/say?
They CANNOT:
- Hassle you. If you say no, you mean no.
- Block your path. It constitutes obstruction of the highway, which is an offence.
- Chase after you.
- Take your credit card details - it has to be bank details. This is for your benefit rather than theirs; there is only so much someone can do with your sort code and account number, but obviously there is a lot they can do with your CC number.
- Lie. Obviously. (If you think that they're just whiling away some pre-learned spiel, they are - scripting means that what they are telling you is generally correct and it avoids a whole plethora of problems)
They CAN:
- Insist they fill out the DD form for you. This is also for your own benefit; if there are any mistakes, it means that they are responsible, not you.
They HAVE TO:
- Tell you they are being paid, but ONLY IF they have asked for money. If they don't ask for any money, then technically they don't have to, but many agencies encourage fundraisers to disclose anyway.
The disclosure usually goes something like:
I just have to let you know that I'm part of a team, and that we're being paid a set fee to speak to you today.
... though it may vary from charity to charity. If you ask them how much they personally are being paid, then they have the right not to tell you - that's a confidential matter for the fundraiser themselves (plus, generally it's just rude to ask a complete stranger how much they earn.) In any case, I've said what the going rate is from when I did it (about three years ago) and I doubt it has massively increased. (I got asked about it a lot and it made me quite irate.)
- Let you have a copy of the form. Usually, the form itself is in triplicate. Two copies go to the charity, and one is for your own records. (None are kept by the agency itself, though they may go to the agency HQ for processing.) The form itself will usually have personal information fields (name, address, tel, email etc) contact preference fields (Is it Ok for ust to contact you by...), the Direct Debit mandate, which apart from your account details will have the DD gurentee and the originator's code. It should also have the fundraiser's name (doesn't have to be their full name but most agencies usually encourage fundraisers to put their full name - I always did), their employee number, the date and the place where you signed up. Most - but not all* - will also have a GiftAid decleration. If you pay enough income or capital gains tax, then do it - it makes your gift worth 28% more to the charity at no extra cost to yourself.
* Some organisations like Greenpeace and Amnesty International use F2F, but since they are not charities [because they have what the Charity Commission deems to be 'political aims'] they do not qualify for Gift Aid.
- Have ID. Most agencies these days give their fundraisers photo ID.
- Give you the charity number, HQ address, and supporter's services telephone number upon request. (This info is always on the form so they should have it to hand.)
Should I give to a fundraiser?
It's up to you. The money you give to a F2F fundraiser goes straight to the charity. There are always going to be costs in fundraising - you've got to speculate to accumulate. The charities themselves get a great return on their investment by F2F fundraising, and people give for a long time.
If you don't want to do it with a fundraiser, then you can always contact the charity direct and set it up with them. Some, like Cancer Research UK, have secure websites where you can give your details and set it up online. Others will be happy to send you a form.
One last thing - as I said, F2F fundraising is hard work, and not that brilliantly paid. Fundraisers are also under pressure to meet targets. If you don't want to talk to them, fair enough, no problem, but please be polite and friendly. I got a fair bit of abuse from members of the public as did others, and it broke some of us, including me - the job made me depressed for a while until I quit in dispair. (I sold store cards afterwards and people were clamouring to speak to me.) One particularly lovely incident was when a rather agressive gentlemen stood toe to toe with me and shouted at me, telling me how I was scum, robbing money of charities etc.
Please remember - fundraisers are people to. A quick smile and a 'no, thank you' is all it takes.
trib·une [ˈtrɪbyun, trɪˈbyun/ trib-yoon, tri-byoon] noun; a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.
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Comments
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Thanks for clearing that up. I kind of feel bad now for the way I spoke to some of the students jumping up and down in my face, first thing on a Monday morning when i'm late for work with more ofton then not, a hang over. Oh how I want to punch them in there fresh face's and tell them to F off.
Only joking, cheers for that, I never signed up as I thought charitys recieved very little. its a same you can't tip for good work!.Keep smiling, G.0 -
I think the manners of chuggers (sorry have to say it) has improved, but realise they are just following guidelines...
Unfortunately I live in an area where they are out in force every day, and it is tiresome when I work for a charity, earn less than they do, and can't even treat myself to a monthly starbucks without having someone thrust a clipboard under my nose.
I realise they are also advertising the charity to people who give in other ways, but there is distinct overkill in our area, the guidelines you have mentioned sound good, but there must be alot of agencies out there!Give yourself a Chistmas bonus £14 a week!
Total so far £280 -
greenmoneysaver wrote:I think the manners of chuggers (sorry have to say it) has improved, but realise they are just following guidelines...
If you think that a fundraiser was not up to scratch, you can of course complain to the charity themselves. If you can, you should get the name of the agency doing it, but just the date and location should be enough - they can pritty much work out which agency was there at that time and take action. As I'm sure you know (as you say you work for a charity yourself) the last thing a charity wants is a bad reputation.
I should also point out that the IoF does mystery shopping on a fairly regular basis and are, apparently, quite tough even on the most minor transgression of the rules. As well as the whole furure over F2F, this is why things have improved.Unfortunately I live in an area where they are out in force every day, and it is tiresome when I work for a charity, earn less than they do, and can't even treat myself to a monthly starbucks without having someone thrust a clipboard under my nose.
Pitches for F2F are regulated by the appropriate council. If you think there are too many of them in a particular space, you can complain to the council's licencing department.I realise they are also advertising the charity to people who give in other ways, but there is distinct overkill in our area, the guidelines you have mentioned sound good, but there must be alot of agencies out there!
There were. When I was doing it, there were about five different agencies in Greater Manchester alone. An agency will employ from around 20 to 50 people in one city, and teams can vary from just 2 to 10 people, so they do get around.
However, about two years ago, quite a few of them went bankrupt and there was a process of consolidation, mergers and bankruptices which reduced the number.
But it's a profitable business, the charities do it because they get a massive return on their investment (much more than a billboard or TV campaign), and there will always be people willing to do it. So there will always be agencies opening. Wait a couple of years and you should see a contraction - history does, unfortunatly, repeat itself.trib·une [ˈtrɪbyun, trɪˈbyun/ trib-yoon, tri-byoon] noun; a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.0 -
Thanks for that.
I think if this had been around when I was at uni I would have been doing it, so can sympathise with those doing it.
Will consider the council path, as saturdays on the main street where I live are difficult with so many people there and they loiter on the worst spot between M&S, pedestrian crossing and Starbucks. They have even been pushy with me when I have had a guide dog with me, which is charity work I do in my own time!!
Will keep all you wrote in mind.Give yourself a Chistmas bonus £14 a week!
Total so far £280 -
Well done couldn't have put it better myself.
I do this work for the charity i workl for as well as running charity shops for them.
The rules are strict and we don't force people but we have a laugh at the same time
James0 -
I do not give to chuggers - the ones out in Central London, especially on High Holborn and Farringdon are rude and aggressive. Have reported them before and got an equally rude response (one guy bullied a little old lady to tears).
Last summer, I encountered a chugger on High Holborn, collecting for a cancer charity. I wouldn't part with my card details (3 of my friends have had their bank accounts more of less cleared after doing so...), and the guy screamed a whole torrent of abuse at me as to how "people like me" were consigning 1000's of people to an agonising cancer death, how "people like me" made him sick and how he hoped I got cancer, to "see how I liked it".
At this point, I explained that my life was cancer research (I have a doctorate in the subject) and regularly gave my time FREE OF CHARGE (not for £7 an hour!) to a local hospice... I got a round of applause from the crowd which had gathered and unluckily for him, one guy at the back was in police uniform. Classic. I left them 'having a chat'.
I also reported him. Saw him out chugging the same stretch a month later for a homeless charity. That's how seriously his company took that kind of practice - i.e. not very.
It might sound harsh, but I go as far as refusing to support charities that use chuggers in favour of those who do not. The only way people are going to start realising that such practices are unwelcome is if people report them to local councils and companies employing them, but also speak with their wallet.
Rant over.April Grocery Challenge £81/£1200 -
I do not give to chuggers - the ones out in Central London, especially on High Holborn and Farringdon are rude and aggressive.
That's because they're under pressure from their managers. There is a phenominal amount of pressure under fundraisers. Plus they tend to be the minority.
regularly gave my time FREE OF CHARGE (not for £7 an hour!)
Well, bully for you, quite frankly, but fundraising is hard work and people have to eat and pay the rent. If you demand that fundraisers should work for free, then you have to demand everyone who works for the charity works for free as well. See the distorted logic of this?
I'm sorry to hear that you've had bad experiences but there's no need to be... well, my mother said if you can't say anything nice...trib·une [ˈtrɪbyun, trɪˈbyun/ trib-yoon, tri-byoon] noun; a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.0 -
I don't think DrFluffy was being horrible, just giving her experience, and your response seems to confirm the majority of peoples opinions of chuggers, that they fly off the handle and use forceful tactics on people.
Also she wasn't demanding that people work for free.
I appreciated your original post as it will help people know the line that chuggers should not cross, and now you have crossed it...Give yourself a Chistmas bonus £14 a week!
Total so far £280 -
I wasn't flying off the handle. Like I say, I'm sorry to hear DrFluffy had a horrible experience, but...Also she wasn't demanding that people work for free.
Well, I think she was...regularly gave my time FREE OF CHARGE (not for £7 an hour!)
Now, if that isn't demanding that people work for free - in a more snarky and disrespectful tone than I ever took - then I don't know what is. She also tars all 'chuggers' (note the use of the prejudicial language) with the same brush, as if they're all the same.trib·une [ˈtrɪbyun, trɪˈbyun/ trib-yoon, tri-byoon] noun; a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.0 -
Tribune wrote:Now, if that isn't demanding that people work for free - in a more snarky and disrespectful tone than I ever took - then I don't know what is. She also tars all 'chuggers' (note the use of the prejudicial language) with the same brush, as if they're all the same.
Er, - given the !!!! wished cancer on me for not giving my card details, I thought it more than fine to point out I volunteer, rather than get paid for doing something.
In my experience most Chuggers are the same. Some are nice and polite (I can count them on one hand), the majority I've encountered are aggressive and are doing more harm than good. As I said, I no longer support any charity that employs such collecting techniques, and I know I am part of a huge and growin army.
If bullying people in to giving cash so that the chugger can hit their target and get their bonus is acceptable to you, you need help.April Grocery Challenge £81/£1200
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