If there’s one thing we’ve seen this year in the fundraising sector, it’s that being bold can really pay off. And when I say bold, I mean reaching for every opportunity you can – in what has been an extremely tricky environment to fundraise in… Why do I say this? Let me explain. As...
Upgrade campaigns – we know you know about them, but when did you last run one? If it wasn’t in the last 12 months, why is that? Perhaps the thought of asking your valued donors to put their hands in their pockets at this strange time is a bit much. Perhaps it’s a high...
“At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, JDRF worked in partnership with QTS to run a thank you campaign for our supporters. Needless to say, so much has changed since then, but one thing that remains a constant is the power of saying thank you. We are the type 1 diabetes charity. We rely...
Two little words most of us say many, many times a day in general conversation – but have you ever really considered the power of thank you? In thanking someone, whether it’s the simple courtesy of acknowledging someone who holds the door open for you or showing gratitude to the server for making you...
This month we wanted to share news of an exciting new partnership we are developing. We’ve been chatting with Steve Grieve from Integrity Print and Glenn Robinson from Urban Planet about some brilliant solutions for us – and our clients – when it comes to added value services. Why could this be useful? It...
This month’s case study is all about lotteries, prompted by the recent growth of more and more clients focusing on extra number campaigns. It’s no surprise really – of course everyone loves a lottery! For the supporter, a feel-good, low cost contribution is often preferable to the commitment of a larger monthly gift. And...
2020 was the year of WFH (among other things!). Very quickly, businesses had to adapt to their staff working remotely or risk being left behind – and interestingly, many of the big names decided that rather than this being a short term measure, working from home was actually a huge long-term opportunity. The recognition...
Here at QTS Fundraising, we work with all sorts of charities. From the big household names like Samaritans and Alzheimer’s Society, to the less well known non-profits such as Education Support and British Liver Trust. For these charities and many more, regular giving is their lifeblood. Regular givers provide them with a source of...
Charities everywhere are reeling from the ongoing impact of COVID-19; as we are all very aware, for almost a year now, mass participation events have been cancelled, public fundraising events have been severely limited, face-to-face fundraising has all but stopped, charity shops have experienced long periods of closure. The funding gaps continue to widen,...
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...