# Emma Freud on Comic Relief's online fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/03/10/emma-freud-comic-relief039s-online-fundraising/
- Published: 2005-03-10T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

TV and radio presenter Emma Freud, a founder of Comic Relief, shares some statistics
on the charity’s online fundraising.
In 2003, 8% of all Comic Relief’s income was
donated online, according to Emma Freud, in an interview today with Bobbie Johnson
in The Guardian. Indeed, she admits that “the Internet has been the single most 
radical change in the way we work.”

This year already, “about half of our 140,000 requests for fundraising packs have
come from the web”. The charity has also made about £250,000 from its online shop,
the first time it has attempted online merchandise sales.

As well as generating income online, Ms Freud explained that the Internet “makes
it easier to give more to our fundraisers.” For example, “we’re able to give people
little treats – this year, French and Saunders gave us a sketch that hasn’t been
broadcast yet, and we’re showing it online.”

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When asked if the Internet simply cannibalises income that would have come in anyway
through different channels, she admits she doesn’t know. However, given that “the
average donation on the Internet is 25% more than a telephone donation… I’d like
to think it is an increase.” She adds that although “the average donation through
interactive TV is lower than online… it is about giving people as many ways to donate
as possible.”

Will this year’s Comic Relief campaign raise more than the previous record? Will
the total be reduced because of the success of the recent tsunami appeal? She’s 
not sure, but “sales of red noses have risen by 40% on 2003.”

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