# Vital impressions - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/09/16/vital-impressions/ - Published: 2002-09-16T23:00:00+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake Ian Kerr of Midas Charity Appeals suggests that not all fundraisers work in the fundraising department. “A friendly and alert Receptionist can transform a donor’s visit or a phone call. A bad one can do irreparable damage. First impressions of a charity are just as important in fundraising as they are taught to salesmen. “I still remember calling Action Aid 15 years after I left. I was given the impression by the Receptionist that I was still known and valued, although I was probably entirely forgotten. Equally, I called a client last year in what I thought was a friendly tone, asking for the fundraiser “is blank there” to receive the reply “No, she is not”! If I had been wanting to give £500 or leave a legacy, I would have gone elsewhere. “It must be a thankless job sorting out everyone’s calls, handling problems and complaints. The occasional “thank you” to the Receptionist will help, and he or she must be viewed as an essential part of the Appeal Team. Those who are so positioned to see arrivals and departures could in addition note those cars that are valued at £20,000 or more!” ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) [Ian Kerr](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/mailto:ia*****@**************rg.uk) would be interested in your ideas. * **[Time for charities to submit 2001 annual returns](https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/09/16/time-charities-submit-2001-annual-returns/)**( 16 September 2002) * **[John Grooms to measure role and value of awareness in donor recruitment](https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/09/16/john-grooms-measure-role-and-value-awareness-donor-recruitment/)**( 16 September 2002) * **[Charity trustee sentenced for lying](https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/09/16/charity-trustee-sentenced-lying/)**( 16 September 2002)