# Guardian features how to deal with charity street fundraisers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/09/09/guardian-features-how-deal-charity-street-fundraisers/
- Published: 2005-09-09T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Today’s Jobs & Money supplement in The Guardian features a reader’s request for 
advice on how to deal with charity street fundraisers. Several readers give their
thoughts.
This week’s Personal effects column features charity street fundraisers.“
Almost every morning I’m assailed by clipboard-wielding charity street fundraisers,
wanting to set me up a direct debit” begins a reader’s letter to the column. “Friends
say that most of the money goes to pay their wages, not to the charity they are 
hawking. i feel like they’re out to mug me. What’s the best way to fend them off?
Or am I being too unfair on them.”

Eight readers respond with their advice, the most succinct being “It’s easy… headphones.”

One former street fundraiser asks readers “don’t be too harsh on us.” But “the managers
were another matter: heavy targets, “overfishing” of high streets, and sacking fundraisers
who don’t hit their quota.”

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A former charity accountant claimed that “signing up with a street fundraiser is
an extremely cost-inefficient way of donating.” Instead she recommends donors approach
the charity directly and give tax-efficiently.

One reader suggests trying to bamboozle the fundraisers by asking them “Had a good
response today?” He says this approach never fails because they have to answer and
don’t get time to ask you something.”

One reader feels is’s fairly exempt from the fundraisers’ attentions. As well as
not catching their eye or smiling, he thinks his gender, receding hair, expanding
waistband and poor dress sense puts off all fundraisres. “Copy my looks and peace
will reign” he claims.

The best advice comes from a Somerset reader who advises telling fundraisers the
trust, namely that you already give to charity in an organised way, so can’t help.
A mention of using the services of Charities Aid Foundation goes down well, it would
seem.

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