# BHF warns public of misleading commercial charity bag collectors

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/08/31/bhf-warns-public-misleading-commercial-charity-bag-collectors/
- Published: 2011-08-31T11:01:01+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is warning the public as little as 30% of items
donated to charity via letterbox charity bags stand a chance of ending up in charity
shops.

The charity’s research reveals that 70% of charity bags received by the average 
householder receives are from commercial companies that work with charities on a
for-profit basis, by selling the donated items overseas. In some cases just 5% of
the value of the clothing is paid by the company to the charity.

The charity found that 65% of the public were not aware that these commercial companies
existed, and that they assumed that charities received 100% of the profits made 
from their charity bag donations. BHF says that, when made aware of this, 85% of
people surveyed said it made them “feel shocked, cheated and disheartened”.

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The research has been published as BHF Shops begin their BIG Donation stock appeal
for September. The charity says that it is “vital people understand where their 
charity bag donations are going so they can make an informed choice when choosing
which charity to support.”

BHF also claims that the escalation in commercial activity has had a negative impact
on charity bag donations. BHF Shops have seen a 36% drop in household collections,
meaning a loss of £4.6 million to the charity over the last two years (2009-2011).

Retail Director for the BHF, Mike Lucas, said: “It is vital commercial companies
act responsibly and be transparent on their charity bags – particularly around how
much profit the named charity will actually make from a collection. Householders
have the right to know what happens to their donations and currently this information
is not clear.

He acknowledged that this method of fundraising is legal, but BHF chose not to work
with these companies. “Because of this 100% of the profits made from charity bag
donations stay with the charity – helping us continue our lifesaving work”, he added.

www.bhf.org.uk/bigdonation

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