# Intelligent Giving criticises 'ignorant' face to face fundraisers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/11/24/intelligent-giving-criticises-039ignorant039-face-face-fundraisers/
- Published: 2008-11-24T13:13:19+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/Intelligent_giving_1227532367.
jpg)

Charity-advisory website Intelligent Giving claims that many of the face-to-face
fundraisers (or “chuggers” as it refers to them on its blog) that its researchers
met in a mystery shopper exercise in central London are failing to adhere to the
relevant legislation and professional codes of practice.

After the six-week research in October and November, the website concludes “never
give to street fundraisers”, and advises the public to make donations via a charity’s
website.

Intelligent Giving surveyed 50 face-to-face fundraisers. As explained in its [methodology](http://www.intelligentgiving.com/watchdog/charity_muggers/our_methodology),
it tested them to see how far they complied with the Charities Acts [1992](http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/ukpga_19920041_en_7#pt2-pb2-l1g60)
and [2006](http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060050_en_9#pt3-ch2-l1g67),
the Institute of Fundraising’s [Face-to-Face Activity Code of Practice](http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/bestpractice/thecodes/codesoffundraisingpractice/codesdirectory/facetofaceactivity.htm)
and the [code of conduct](http://www.pfra.org.uk/cofc.htm?menuSet=down&sectionSet=fundraising)
of the Professional Fundraising Regulatory Association.

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On the requirement for face-to-face fundraisers to state that they are being paid,
how much and on what basis (whether it is commission), Intelligent Giving’s researchers
found that “only four of our fifty fundraisers gave this satisfactory ‘solicitation
statement’ without being asked.”

Furthermore, the [researchers concluded](http://www.intelligentgiving.com/watchdog/charity_muggers)
that “chuggers don’t always know much about the charities they represent”, contrasting
this with the usually well-informed approach of in-house fundraisers, and that they
can be rude: “fifteen of our fundraisers would not leave our researchers alone when
asked.”

In a blog post entitled [Ignorant chuggers risk damaging all charities](http://www.intelligentgiving.com/the_buzz/the_blog/ignorant_chuggers_risk_damaging_all_charities),
Intelligent Giving’s Director Adam Rothwell commented: “It’s a disgrace to the fundraising
profession that some of them were prepared to lie about their earnings in an attempt
to get our researchers to stump up a donation. And the level of general compliance
with professional standards was distressingly low.”

However, the survey’s publication has caused debate and concern amongst fundraisers
on online communities such as Facebook. As Robert Booth in [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/24/charities-fundraising-chuggers-intelligent-giving)
noted, “In 2006 a quarter of Shelter’s income came from street fundraisers and 75%
of Greenpeace’s new members were recruited this way between 2000 and 2003”. Public
criticism of the method based on a survey sample of 50 could have serious results
for some charities if the public were to lose confidence in this method of giving.

Mick Aldridge, chief executive of the [Public Fundraising Regulatory Association](http://www.pfra.org.uk),
the self-regulatory body for face-to-face fundraising by charities and professional
fundraising organisations, described the survey’s publication as “grossly irresponsible”.

www.intelligentgiving.com/watchdog/charity_muggers

 * **[Intelligent Giving research is so sexed up it could have been done by Ann Summers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/11/27/intelligent-giving-research-so-sexed-it-could-have-been-done-ann-summers/)**(
   27 November 2008)
 * **[Intelligent Giving needs to raise its own standards](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/07/25/intelligent-giving-needs-raise-its-own-standards/)**(
   25 July 2007)
 * **[Intelligent Giving to the rescue? Oh pur-lease!](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/01/25/intelligent-giving-rescue-oh-purlease/)**(
   25 January 2008)