Telephone fundraising tends to make news headlines for the wrong reasons. Over the course of the last year or so, there has been one or two thankfully rare incidents of companies taking an overzealous, well intentioned but entirely inappropriate approach to contacting possible donation makers. While it is not for us to comment on...

Charities come in many different forms, from the largest names with members around the world to smaller local organisations. Regardless of size, most charities rely on supporters and donors for funding. Each organisation will have its own strategy for fundraising, and telephone operations can be a vital part of this. The technique can be...

Research carried out in 2014 found that giving or taking an active role in raising funds for others is a more effective pick-me-up than hitting the shops and treating ourselves. The Action for Happiness movement claims that by embracing charity work and basing it on their convictions, many people actually end up giving their...

Work is ongoing on the creation and implementation of a new Fundraising Preference Service (FPS) to protect people from repeated unsolicited communication from charities. The service would allow people to sign up and block contact from all organisations. The charities could then face penalties if they get in touch with people who have registered...

There has been much closer scrutiny of telephone fundraising activities in recent years after concerns were raised over the behaviour of fundraisers and the impact they have on donors. This has led to calls for the Institute of Fundraising to make changes to their code of practise. Several amendments have already been made, but...

The importance of charity fundraising speaks for itself. Charitable organisations are essential as they help to raise awareness of valuable causes and generate cash to provide help to those that need it. The absence of donations would make it impossible for charities to function, as they rely on the generosity of others to fund...

One of the biggest problems with telephone fundraising is disjointed communication. A fundamentally important aspect of the medium is ensuring potential donors have a clear picture of the charity’s aims and the precise impact of their donations. Equally important is that the agency you outsource your fundraising to clearly understands your charity, its values...

A number of changes to the Code of Fundraising Practice were announced in September following criticism of the old regulations and the activities of several charities in the UK. Many of the changes were implemented in November following the review. Two more requirements were introduced in December concerning font sizes on printed communications and...

When fundraising over the telephone, one of the most important factors for success is establishing a sense of trust. The Institute of Fundraising’s National Convention was held earlier this year and this was one of the hottest topics. The value of making donors feel comfortable, being honest and taking a respectful approach can never...

There have been big changes in the telephone fundraising industry recently, and the subject of contacting people who have not given consent has been discussed extensively. A confusing situation has arisen regarding “express consent” and how long this should be valid for, particularly when it comes to people who have registered with the Telephone...

Fundraising by telephone can be tricky but by using well trained, friendly operators with a comprehensive knowledge and respect for the rules and regulations, it is a highly effective method of raising funds for charitable organisations. Millions of pounds are raised annually through telephone fundraising, and part of its success can be attributed to...

A review of fundraising regulations found that a major frustration among the general public is that they have no control over whether they are contacted by charities. There is no system in place for them to opt out of communications before they receive a phone call or mail, whether it is through the post...

The modern age is all about high-speed communication and as incredible as technology is, it can be difficult to make a meaningful connection. One important thing to remember is that the personal phone call still carries a lot of weight and remains the preferred choice of communication for many.

It is estimated that members of the public give around £7 billion a year to over 180,000 different charities operating in the UK. These breathtaking figures reflect the number of causes there are to support and the amount of funding the organisations need to keep running.

Telephone fundraising is one of the most effective ways to recruit regular supporters for charities. It is an excellent way of engaging with the public and raises the money needed to help millions of people every year. However, to be successful, telephone fundraising needs to be approached in the right way. The aim is...