Consumers Advised to buy Christmas Cards Directly from Charity

Howard Lake | 27 November 2007 | Newswire

This Christmas, the Institute of Fundraising (‘Institute’) is advising consumers to buy cards directly from charities in order to maximise the donation made to good causes. The recommendation comes as one in a series of ‘top tips for buying charity Christmas cards’, which have today been launched by the Institute of Fundraising (‘Institute’).
Each year, close to two billion Christmas cards are sent in the UK. 30% of such cards include a charitable donation, but the amount of money actually going to charity varies enormously. Whilst all companies producing cards that make donations to charity are required by law to state how much money the charity will receive, the Institute’s information sheet outlines a number of simple steps consumers can take in order to ensure charities receive as high a proportion of revenue as possible from the Christmas cards they purchase.
Where possible, it is advised that consumers should buy cards directly from their favourite charities, as it is through this method that the charity can often receive the most money from card sales. Consumers are advised to look for these cards or the charity’s own shop or website.
Megan Pacey, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the Institute of Fundraising, says:
Buying a Christmas card to benefit charity remains a popular choice at this time of year – but many consumers don’t stop to think about the proportion of money which actually goes to good causes. This information sheet will enable individuals to make an informed choice as to how they want to support charity at Christmas time.”
The briefing is available to download at http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/christmascards
-ENDS-
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For further information please contact:
Diana Mackie Tel. 020 7840 1027/ 07793 802 852
Institute of Fundraising email: di****@in**********************.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Institute of Fundraising
The Institute of Fundraising (www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk) represents fundraisers and fundraising throughout the UK and is committed to the highest standards in fundraising management and practice. The Institute of Fundraising is the largest individual representative body in the voluntary sector with 4500 Individual members and 250 Organisational members.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.