| The British Red Cross carries out street, door-to-door and telephone fundraising. To help make sure our fundraisers are knowledgeable ambassadors for the Red Cross, we hold frequent training sessions to teach them about our history, ideals and projects.
We also closely monitor our campaigns to ensure our representatives adhere to all regulations and codes of best practice set out by the Fundraising Standards Board, Institute of Fundraising and Public Fundraising Regulatory Association.
Door-to-door fundraising | Top |
Door-to-door fundraising is one of the most effective ways of recruiting supporters to the Red Cross. Our fundraisers knock on doors to talk to people about our work and ask them to support it with a regular gift. Tens of thousands of people agree to do so every year.
We started door-to-door fundraising with external agencies in 2004. It has allowed us to reach people we haven’t been able to through other methods such as mail and television.
How to recognise a door-to-door fundraiser
Street fundraising involves speaking to people in the street about our work and asking them to support it with a regular gift. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to recruit new direct debit supporters. The supporters we recruit are worth about £110 each to the charity in the first year of their support and a large number will support us for many years to come.
We started street fundraising in 2001 and and now manage it with an external agency called Gift Fundraising.
How to recognise a street fundraiser
Engagement fundraising | Top |
Engagement takes place in the street and is managed by an external agency, GoGen.
After the initial conversation on the street, the person is sent an email explaining more about the Red Cross’ work. A few days later, a telephone fundraiser calls to discuss our work before inviting them to become a regular giver.
It gives the public the chance to learn more about the Red Cross and whether they would like to make a commitment to our work before setting up a regular gift.
How to recognise an engagement fundraiser
Private-site fundraising | Top |
Private-site fundraising involves our fundraisers approaching members of the public and encouraging them to make a regular donation.
It is carried out in conjunction with external agencies, which pay for space on a private site, such as a supermarket, shopping centre, train station or any other privately owned site frequented by the public.
The fundraisers are employed by the same agencies as our door-to-door fundraisers and have the same training and disciplinary procedures.
How to recognise a private-site fundraiser
For over ten years the British Red Cross has successfully recruited new supporters over the telephone and it remains one of our most cost-effective methods.
Working with several telemarketing agencies, we call thousands of people every year to discuss Red Cross projects and ask for their support. Many of these people agree to set up a regular gift to the Red Cross, and those that do not still have the opportunity to learn a great deal about who we are and what we do.
We also use this method to welcome new donors and thank people for supporting us.
Our telemarketing campaigns have been so successful that we won the ‘best use of telephone’ award at the 2007 Institute of Fundraising Awards.
Meet our fundraisers | 
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