Institute to revise face-to-face code
Howard Lake | 2 August 2007 | News
The Institute of Fundraising is setting up a working party to revise its code on face-to-face fundraising to take into account the evolving practice of ‘prospecting’.
Charities use prospecting to sign up supporters, but without using a direct ask – asking them to sign up to support a campaign, for example. The prospects are then contacted at a later date with a direct ask for a donation either by telephone or email.
It is not presently covered within the scope of the face-to-face fundraising code which sets out best practice for both on the street and door-to-door fundraising.
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The Institute considers that practitioners of the ‘two-stop’ fundraising technique of prospecting should adhere to the same standards of practice as those making a direct ask of a member of the public on the street.
A spokesperson from the PFRA said: “We are delighted that the Institute of Fundraising will be extending the Code of Practice for face-to-face fundraising to encompass ‘prospect gathering’.
“As the practice grows in popularity, it is important to ensure that the public’s experience of prospect gathering does not damage the reputations of either charities or the medium. Feedback from both members of the public and our local authority partners demonstrates that they perceive little difference between conventional face-to-face fundraising and prospecting and we want to ensure that this is as well regulated as street and door-to-door fundraising has been for many years.”
Charities already using the technique include Oxfam, the NSPCC and the League Against Cruel Sports.
Details of how to apply to join the working party are available on the Institute’s website. Closing date is 31 August.
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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.