Fundraising lotteries are a lucrative way for charities to raise funds and at the same time, engage with their current supporter base as well as recruit new supporters too.

How do fundraising lotteries work? (Please note, this information is given without prejudice… And you should seek legal advice and performing your own lottery.)

Lotteries are games where individuals get an opportunity to be able to win a reward. They have been very popular with charities for many years, however you must fully understand all legal legislation before embarking on providing raffles or lotteries to your supporter base. Should you break the law, your charity could receive a hefty fine.

For more information on Fundraising lotteries, you may like to speak to Lottery in a Box. They are very knowledgeable and have worked with many charities to provide successful lottery and raffle campaigns.

Call 020 8381 8430 or email info@fi-ltd.com

Advice when planning fundraising lotteries

There are a number of steps to consider should you be thinking about embarking on a fundraising lottery campaign.

There are different types of lotteries you can run, with wach having their own rules and regulations.

The most common amongst UK charities are:

Private Lotteries

There are three types of private lotteries:

• Private Lottery – These can only be promoted by one of its members and tickets must only be sold to other members of the specific society. In addition, the tickets can only be sold on the premises of the society too.
• Work Lottery – Again, these can only be sold on the premises of the organiser and cannot be run for profitable gain.
• Residents’ Lottery – Again, these cannot be run for profit and the promoter must reside at the actual premises

Small Society Lotteries

In the most recent Gambling Act 2005, the definition of the word ‘Society’ has been removed and is therefore not 100% clear. A registered charity, however, should be perfectly fine.

Small society lotteries can be promoted to benefit non-commercial societies (which are charities). Therefore, small society lotteries can be used for charitable purposes.

A charity who runs a small society lottery sale tickets more than £20,000 worth at a time, and the charity’s aggregate proceeds from the lottery is can not exceed £200,000 a year. If you do, you will require to run a large society lottery.

Large Society Lottery

As previously mentioned, if your organisation’s ticket sales will exceed £20,000 then you will need a large society lottery. In addition, if your annual total exceeds £250,000 (in one calendar year), then you will be required to apply for a large lottery.

Also, please bear in mind that a large lottery can only be run under a Lottery Operating Licence, which can only be issued by the Gambling Commission. There is a cost for this, including administration, therefore you need to plan any lottery ideas you may have.

Your plans

Based on this information, you should ask yourself a few questions before deciding on which type of lottery to proceed with.

For example, who will you sell tickets to; where will you sell the tickets (will it be on the premises or in public places, or even online); how much will each ticket cost and how much would you expect to fundraise (remember, that if you have already run a lottery in the past how much money have you made from it and does this exceed £250,000, in which case the only option would be a large society lottery.)

Should you have any further questions, please contact Lottery in a Box on 020 8381 8430 or email info@fi-ltd.com

Online Fundraising – Do It Smarter And Better

For the homepage of your fundraising website, it should be interesting, compelling and without fluff. It should note clearly what your charity actually does. Are you an animal shelter, are you researching medical advancement. Be clear who you are and what you do.

For those who see your website for the first time, it should tell them in an instant what your charity actually does. Give stories, pictures and let others see how you are helping. And make sure this is all above the fold.

You can also take this opportunity to ask for donations through the charity website. Make sure there is a clear call to action… a “donate” button in big and bold letters. Always be perfectly clear with your intentions.

Here is another tip for your charity website. Ask your supporters to write testimonials for you. How their donations are making a significant impact. You have to also provide a track record for the results and how the impact of their contribution has created a big change.
The donation page should be simple. It should not be something that lets them fill a lot of information. If possible, avoid creating navigations or links that may pull them away from this page of your charity website.

Make your intentions clear and keep it short. When asking for donations from your charity website, you have to also avoid asking for information which you may not even need at all. The more information you ask for the more likely people give up, close the page and leave your website without donating. Let them also realise that performing a transaction with you is secure and safe. That will help them be at ease. Remember to boost your charity’s credibility by getting testimonials from other donors.

An important communication tool that you can use to increase your fundraising and awareness is by fully utilising your charity’s website. Your website  can inform the public offline and online about your aims, your mission and your success stories. Potential supporters and even current donors will visit your website and this is your way to engage with them in a simple yet effective manner. You can provide details to where the money went for your last project or you can share pictures of your last activity to encourage people to engage with your fundraising activities.

When building your charity’s website, it is important that you get it right from integration. It is much easier to think through all the elements and functionality you require for your website from the get-go rather than changing elements down the line.

How you position yourself on your website should sound and look like they are indeed coming from a professional organisation and not just the opinion of a sole individual. This build trust and credibility.

Call 020 7332 6360

Tip for your website from a Charity Web Agency

The world of charity website design and build has changed. It’s no longer good enough to think of your charity’s website as a nice to have, or to design, build and promote your website without evidence to back up your choices.

Most of all, when you consider a new charity website project, you must consider the target audience and key objectives. What’s the website going to achieve for your charity? Is it a fundraising site? Or one that educates supporters about your cause? Or one that provides a deeper engagement for existing donors to your charity?

They has over 14 years’ experience as a charity web agency, helping not for profit organisations increase donations, deliver fundraising websites, and implement cause-based marketing campaigns. Time and time again we see the main challenges for creating a website for one of our charity clients being a clear understanding of their target audience, and what they want the website to achieve for the organisation.
Segmenting your supporters is a good first step. It allows your charity to understand what your supporters want from your website, and even more broadly in the other areas where you engage with them, be it online or offline.

Taking stock of your charity’s overall long term strategy and linking it to the website’s goals is the counterpoint to what your supporters want, though the goals of your charity and your supporters will often share common ground.

Choosing the right emotional tone for the website, as well as a look and feel that matches your charity’s brand values is crucial, as is selecting a suitable technology from the raft of platforms that charities use today to deliver website experiences.

Then considering the overall supporter journey and how they interact with your charity online needs to be factored in. Do they come to the website via other channels, like email, search or social media – all important elements of a charity’s web engagement in today’s world.
The mixing all those elements up, along with a good dose of testing and learning from your charity’s supporter base, will help to ensure your new charity website stands a good chance of success.

And of course, feel free to talk to them, experts in digital for charities.

Call 0845 094 8033

There are several points to remember for charity website design

A fundraising website should be clear and simple. Make sure to clearly show the reasons and objectives of your organisation. How you help and by donating, how the prospective donor’s money will help your cause.

Have the word ‘Donate Now’ call to action on every page of your website. Avoid using other terms. Be consistent. With just a click, the donor should be taken immediately to the donation page. There should be no steps in between as this can confuse the donor and will lose people.

Remember, your website is not about receiving donations. Your website should have other elements. It should include identifying the charity’s mission, vision and values. You might also want to put search box on the website so your supporters can easily find any information they are looking for before making a donation.

Sometimes, less is more. You do not have to have pages of content that are more relevant and if you have an event for charity that you are promoting then it is essential to have this on your homepage. We live in an instant gratification world and people are simply too busy to skim through a website to find what they are looking for.

The website should have a touch of authenticity. It is important that your website is believable and you run a well organised charity. Every page should contain your postal mail address and phone number. Avoid adding a PO box. This is something that adds credibility and professionalism. Show people that the charity is run by hardworking folk passionate about supporting your cause. Looking authentic and passionate is essential so that prospective donors will be proud to donate their money to you. Remember, for some, this is an important decision so you want to gain their trust.

Be sure to make your website full of passion. Most decisions are made through emotion. You might want to use compelling and inspiring images in your fundraising website. This will attract a lot of people. Add stories of other donors, add success stories. Position yourself on how you have help – be positive. This will inspire other people to give.

Finally, always split test. You need to know what images are working to convert the most donations and which words are working to convert the most donations. This way you will find out the best combination to generate the most donations.

For Professional Charity Website Design: Call 0845 094 8033 now

Dentist London| More information

Young people, especially children in their adolescent years, sometimes have to visit the dentist because their teeth are not growing straight. If the dentist cannot treat this problem they will normally refer the patient to an Orthodontist who may treat this problem by means of a tooth brace.

One of the main problems in the UK is when a person wants to find a dentist whom he or she can visit free under the NHS. Due to lack of NHS funding most dentists prefer to be on a Private basis where you have to pay for your treatment.

There is always a good selection of ‘Private’ dentists for obvious reasons, whilst an NHS dentist is hard to find as most NHS dentists only allow a certain number of ‘free patients’ on their list. The remainder having to treated on a ‘private’ basis.

The cost of treatment by a private dentist will normally depend on the work required and which dentist will do the procedure.
The most expensive dentist at the practice will normally be one of the partners, whilst the least expensive dentist will normally be a locum dentist who will work at the practice one or two days a week.

These days a dentist will always try to save your teeth but if an extraction is the only option then you will be offered various alternatives for the replacement. Some of these can be very expensive, i.e. implants, crowns, bridge or denture.  There will always be a quote and then the decision is yours.

Call 111 1111 1111

Marathon For Charity | Some Tips

• Look for the Right Charity: To start out your venture in running for a great cause, you should begin with scouting out different charity organisations and discovering which ones are going to be the best fit for you and the ones that you feel like you are most compatible with. Also get an idea as to how the charity might be able to gain funding.
• Analyse Your Financial Obligations: It is not free to run for a charity but registration fees are low for participants, and you will get a free T-shirt as well. Participants can ask for pledges and for sponsorships from their family, friends, coworkers, etc. Some charity runs are set up so that the runner would need to target specific funds that would need to be met. In these cases, it would be beneficial to go with donations and pledges that are prepaid, and this will help you to avoid having to pay with your own money.
• Keep Yourself Trained and In Shape: Even though charity marathons are usually set up with an easy pacing, you need to keep yourself trained. All levels are catered to, from beginners, to advances, and to competitors. Training is needed so that you can participate properly and avoid going down early with an injury, which is truly the last thing that you want to happen in an event like this. Keep in mind that there are now per-mile formula pledges that you can get set up with, and so the longer that you are able to run, the more funds you can get to the charity. This is why you should keep yourself trained and in shape.

Running a marathon for a charity is a great choice, and it’s a great opportunity not only to raise money for the charity, but also to enjoy a nice day out with friends and family, and a great way that you can get some great exercise. Consider a charity run, and raise money for a great cause!

Call 0845 094 8033

Locksmith Watford | More information

Most locksmiths trade locally within 10-20 miles from where they operate. They like to be at the callout within the hour.

Besides emergency callouts, the locksmith can repair and fix new locks to your premises when required.  When called he will discuss the nature of your problem, assess your requirement and then work out the best solution with a quote.

It has recently been found and indeed shown on BBC TV that burglars can gain access through most UPVC doors in less than 30 seconds by a method called ‘lock snapping’.

Because of this, leading UK lock distributors have been promoting their new anti-snap cylinder locks.

These locks with the zero lift cylinder are recommended by the Association of Chief Police Officers and are of British Standard Kitemark requirements and have been fitted to over 100,000 doors within the past 12 months.

When you call a locksmith for an emergency lockout, the first thing they will do on arrival, after identifying himself, will be to assess the situation.

He will want to gain access to your accomodation with the minimum of damage or disruption. So first he will check all possible points of entry, front or back of the house and then decide on the most convenient option. He will try to gain entry without having to drill locks and causing excess damage.

Having successfully completed the job, which is always guaranteed, he will issue an invoice for immediate payment.

Most locksmiths accept debit/credit cards as well as cash and, if he knows the client, even a cheque.
Having completed the job he will normally leave you his card in case you require his services in the future or to recommend to a friend.

How did you find your locksmith?

He will normally advertise on the internet through Google, Yellow Pages, Thompson Directory and local newspapers, or maybe a leaflet delivered to your door.

However the best and most frequent way of finding an efficient locksmith is by means of recommendation.

Finally, frequently check your locks on doors, windows, outhouses and garages. One lock not working correctly is your weakest point and a burglar could find it.

Call 01923 888 925 for a trusted and local locksmith Watford.

Skills for a trust fundraiser

Trust fundraisers need to have good research skills and experience. Information on grantmakers was for some time available in a small number of printed directories, which included contact details, giving policy, sample grants and recipients, and details of trustee meeting dates.

Some of these were then published on CD-ROM and then in searchable, online formats. Now, funding information can be gleaned from a wide range of sources, including blogs, Twitter feeds, and email newsletters. Funders themselves will now almost certainly publish details of their grantmaking criteria.

Trust fundraisers have always been able to use primary research tools, as well as the printed directories. Trusts’ details have been published in the Register of Charities by the Charity Commission (which covers England and Wales). It is now possible to search this information online, and thereby stay abreast of new grantmaking trusts that are created.

As a result, a number of specialist funding researchers help charities by taking on some or all of the trust fundraising research function. Some of these also make use of their personal and professional contacts to learn of other new grantmakers about to launch.

Making the ask of funders

Indeed, finding information about trusts is now comparatively straightforward. The real skill is in making effective applications. This means applying only to relevant trusts, at the right time, in the right format and asking for the right amount of money for the right project. It is too easy to write and send dozens or hundreds of similar applications in the hope that a few will respond with a grant. The larger trusts employ professional advisers and grantmakers: they also talk to each other, so a charity that wastes their time with poorly targeted appeals will probably become known to a range of grantmakers.

In some ways, applying to grantmakers is straightforward in that many of them explain how to do so. Given that, it is remarkable how many charities still make poor or incorrect applications.

Good research is at the heart of all good trust fundraising.

Call 0845 094 8033

Digital fundraiser activities

A digital fundraiser will usually have to manage a range of digital channels. She will also have to create or edit copy for some or all of these channels, and be able to guide or train colleagues in how to write for digital channels.

As well as monitoring and controlling a budget and tracking fundraising income and expenditure, digital fundraisers will almost always have to manage external agencies. This will range from the hosting and development company for the charity’s website, through to a third-party email marketing service. Some will have multiple agencies to manage, from website developers and designers to data specialists, mobile campaign managers, search engine optimisation specialists, and those offering a range of third-party online fundraising platforms and tools.

At the very least, a digital fundraiser will need to select or manage a third-party online donation service that handles debit and credit card donations, and offers individual supporters the facility to create their own fundraising page for their own events on behalf of the charity.

New opportunities

Digital fundraisers arguably face more new opportunities than other fundraisers. There are a remarkable variety of online fundraising channels and methods on offer, with many more being announced. Digital fundraisers need to assess these opportunities and select and test the small number that look like they might meet the needs of their charity.

They will also likely monitor the digital activities of their peers and competitor charities. The online fundraising sector sees new developments almost weekly. While it is essential to focus on reliable sources of income, digital fundraisers need to be able to react quickly to genuine opportunities and emulate successes they come across.

Social media

After initially focusing on the web and email, a great deal of online fundraising now focuses on the opportunities presented by social media sites and tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A digital fundraiser must have good experience of using some of these channels, and understand how they can enhance a charity’s fundraising and other marketing activities.

Call 0845 094 8033

Major Donor Fundraiser | How large is a large donation?

This will depend on the organisation, the quality and number of its donors. As a result, each charity will have its own definition of a major gift in terms of monetary value. Some charities distinguish between a major gift and a high value donation. Others talk in terms of a transformational gift – one that helps transform the charity or a particular project.

So, the minimum for a major gift could range from £1,000 to perhaps £50,000. Add Gift Aid to these sums and you will see that a major gift can become an even more substantial gift to charities.

Skills required

Major donor fundraisers require a range of skills and experience if they are to maximise income.

They must engage in prospect research, or at least manage a prospect research function, in order to identify major gift prospects from the charity’s existing donors, and from other contacts, such as business contacts of the charity’s trustees. This will often involve matching the charity’s donor database with external data that indicates wealth, such as share ownership and company directorships. A number of agencies offer this kind of wealth screening to highlight high net worth individuals (HNWI) on a charity’s database.

They must be able to build relationships with prospective and actual donors over the phone, in writing and in person. They will also need to be able to ‘seal the deal’ with major donors: not all fundraisers are able to close a £1 million or more donation.

They will need to develop or follow policy and ethical guidelines as part of the major donor fundraising function. The level of research that goes into identifying a high net worth individual can be substantial so how this data is recorded, used and protected is paramount.

They will also need to manage and develop an effective stewardship programme to sustain support from major donors. Some major donors will give one big gift in their lifetime, but others will give more than once.

By staying abreast of trends in major donor philanthropy they will need to forecast major donor income, and determine trends in terms of acquisition and retention of major donors.

At larger charities they will have to manage a team carrying out some or all of these activities.

Capital appeals

Major donor fundraisers will sometimes work on a capital appeal. This is a one-off major appeal by a charity, usually for a major project such as a new building. This will usually involve a private phase of fundraising in which a small number of ‘lead donors’ will each commit to giving a major gift. The public phase of the campaign then encourages others to support this initial activity.

Training

Various organisations provide training to major donor fundraisers. These cover the areas ranging from prospect research and solicitation through to making the ask and then ongoing stewardship of major donors.

Call 0845 094 8033

Fundraising Ideas | Different fundraising channels

Since the 1970s charities have become much more sophisticated in how they fundraise, and employ a range of fundraising channels and tools. For example, direct marketing is still the workhorse of many charities’ voluntary income, but various fundraising and commercial ideas have been applied to make it very sophisticated. A/B testing, list-swapping, segmentation and data overlays are just some common practices nowadays.

Charities now will often use a mix of direct marketing, events, grants, legacies, major gifts, digital, telephone and local or community fundraising to generate ongoing income. In so doing, they often outsource some of these activities to specialist agencies.

Business ideas for fundraising

Charities also adopt and adapt ideas and practices from the commercial sector. Oxfam’s national network of charity shops, emulated by many other charities now, is run as a separate trading company, which donates its profits to the charity.

Many charities generate income by selling their services to government agencies under contract to run and implement projects.

Many digital business ideas have been adapted for and by charities. Ideas such as affiliate marketing, rounding up donations as micro-donations, and online shopping are all now popular with many charities.

The idea of fundraising from mobile phones is also being tested by many charities now, whether it is in the form of SMS text giving, regular donations from the donor’s phone bill, or NFC (near field communication) or swiping your phone for contactless donations.

Some of these fundraising innovative ideas have been generated from within charity but an ever growing number are being conceived and made available as services by those outside the sector such as marketing, telecoms, and data experts and philanthropy enterpreneurs.

Tag: Fundraising Ideas – Call 0845 094 8033

Charity run | Why run for a charity?

By running for a charity, it can actually serve two different purposes. Of course, it’s a terrific way that you can raise money for the charity that you are supporting, but it’s also a marvelous way that you can push yourself, challenge yourself, and get yourself in shape, all while having a great day out with your friends and your associates. You are always going to enjoy a run more when you are doing it with the fellowship of others, and enjoying the team jerseys with others as well while running through all of the great and historic parts of your town. This is a way to truly enjoy exercise like never before imagined.

Every town and city typically has many different charity runs that you can choose to be a part of, all supporting different organisations and done throughout the year. If they do not have a charity fun-run set up, then a great opportunity for you would be to set up one yourself. This can be very difficult to do, but is personally very fulfilling to you and enriching to your community. There are a number of things that you will need to do and a few hoops that you will need to jump through in order to set it up, but it shouldn’t be as difficult as you might think it to be. Aside from major issues such as road closures, you will find many different people in your community that will be interested in helping you set up your charity run, and together with the help, you will be able to get it set up and done.

There are different types of charity runs that you can go for, anything from a 5k run, or a 10k run, or even a simple walk to raise money similar to events like “Race for Life.” A charitable run is a great way to support your charity or the charity that you are promoting, and can be a very successful fundraising opportunity for your charity.

Charity Running Events: Call 0845 094 8033 now

How to Run for Charity | How to find the perfect charity run for you

First of all, find out when different organisations host these events in your area throughout the year. In most cities, you will have different events run by different charitable organisations, and you may be interested in running for more than one charity. The best thing to do would be to get information on all of the different charity runs that go on throughout the year, find out information about each charity, and decide which ones you want to take part in. That will give you an idea of how to plan your runs throughout the year. Are you a summer runner or are you just as happy running in the rain?

Of course, you are going to need to be in shape if you are expecting to last for a long time during your charity run. Doing exercises before and eating right before your run can help to get you in good physical shape for the run. Keep in mind that many charity run events are set up on a per mile basis, so for every mile you go, the more money you make for the charity, and so you are going to want to be sure that you are in good shape so that you can run right past the finishing line.

Donations are another important aspect to just about every charity run event. Because a charity run is not free to participate, you are going to need to get donations from people who will sponsor you in the event, and this is how most people go about making money for the charity that they are running for. Family, friends, and co-workers can help you get donation… even social media helps these days like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

These are just a few things that you need to keep in mind when you are considering running for a charity. Of course, regardless of what you do for charity, no matter how big or how small, it’s all still a great help that is going to a great cause to benefit those who are less fortunate than others. Consider running for charity and help other people out, while getting in shape and enjoying a great day out as well.

How to Run for a Charity: Call 0845 094 8033 now

Director of Fundraising | Skills of a Fundraising Director

Charities seeking to recruit a Fundraising Director today will usually seek a professional with managerial experience and a wide range of business skills. These can have been gained in the commercial, public or charity sectors. Many charities now employ fundraisers who have gained skills in business.

A proven track record in generating income and business is probably the most valuable experience to charities, and charity recruitment companies have reported difficulties in recruiting sufficient candidates to meet demand. Indeed, throughout the charity sector there are still not enough experienced fundraisers to fill the vacancies available. This is even more the case at senior fundraising level.

As well as people management, fundraising directors will typically need business development skills, the ability to influence and negotiate (e.g. with major donors), budgeting and financial analysis skills (given that many charities apply multi-million pound fundraising budgets), and the ability to manage a number of commercial partnerships.

These partnerships can be with direct marketing agencies, digital agencies, street fundraising companies, major brands who are corporate sponsors, and celebrities’ agents.

They must also have a good technology background, given the prime role played by direct marketing in securing and retaining donors, and in growing fundraising income. Experience with one or more of the main CRM tools in the sector is essential.

Fundraising Directors will also be expected to research new funding and income generation activities, and to develop the skills of their fundraising team through training, mentoring and other professional development activities.

Professional qualifications

There is no formal qualification for being a Fundraising Director, although the Institute of Fundraising’s Academy is formalising more and more professional development within the sector.

Some Directors of Fundraising will have MBAs, while others will have minimal academic or business qualifications. However, to progress within fundraising and charities at senior level, it is likely that Fundraising Directors will become members of the Institute and study to achieve the Certificate in Fundraising.

Recruitment of Fundraising Directors
Although many senior fundraising vacancies are published in the national and charity trade press, both printed and online, many positions are filled via headhunting and professional recruitment agencies that specialise in the charity and not-for-profit sectors.

Salaries for Fundraising Directors
These range considerably depending on the size and location of the charity, with national and international charities and those based in London and the South East typically paying more. Typical rates of pay are the subject of annual surveys which are widely reported on in the fundraising media.

Call 0845 094 8033 now for Director of Fundraising Jobs

Charity Supplies | What to look for when choosing your charity’s office supplies and furniture

UK charities come in all shapes and sizes, yet they all have one thing in common… they need office supplies to keep functioning whilst continuing to help and support the beneficiaries of their particular cause.

The quality and quantity of office supplies charities need differ quite considerably due to their size. The top 100 UK charities have hundreds, if not thousands of staff members who all require a workstation which would of course include a comfortable office chair, desk and computer. Furthermore, they require the smaller stationery items we take for granted such as pens, paper, staplers, hole punchers, binders, laminators etc.

If you imagine one thousand staff members all needing this type of office supply equipment, the cost of these items can creep up and before you know it you have a substantial office supply bill. In fact, the largest UK charities spend tens of thousands of pounds every year on their charity office supplies.

For this very reason, it is paramount in finding a charity office supplier that will give the charity preferential prices for the charity’s stationery and office supply needs. The difference between charity office suppliers can cost (or save) charities thousands of pounds every year.
For this very reason make sure you choose a reputable office supplier.

Of course, getting the cheapest price is not always the smartest option. If a product is cheaper, perhaps you will suffer from bad account management, the timing in the delivery of your office supplies or even the quality of the actual stationery or office supplies. Therefore, there is a fine balance between receiving affordable pricing for your offices supplies, but also experience good customer service.

Charity office furniture is a larger expense for charities, which can be quite a considerable outlay.  Also, when purchasing office chairs, etc your supplier must be able to ship you a samples for you to try before you buy. Purchasing hundreds of office chairs only to find later that they are not conformable and are causing your staff backache is a headache no charity wants or needs. Make sure your office supplier understand this and is happy to accommodate you in these kinds of matters.

Call 0845 094 8033 now for charity supplies

Third Sector Jobs | Fundraising Charity Work

Charity fundraisers main role is to raise money for the charitable organisation. This can involve organising parties’ and events for the public or approaching potential donors like corporate organisations in fund raising efforts. When doing this, you are looking to build a strong relationship with them, which will compel them to fund your projects effortlessly in the end. You may have to put together a volunteer team that will go door to door looking for funds and donations, but certainly, you will have to approach major corporations for funding for specific projects.

Charity Support Jobs

Charitable organisations require support staff to help them with the daily running of their projects. For instance, you work with people with learning difficulties by helping them as they do shopping or even visiting them at home. In this position, you will be reporting to the management as well as liaising with other voluntary organisations, often times this is a paid position.

Charity Trustee Jobs

A charity trustee is a volunteer that does not receive a salary or wage, but whose responsibility is to oversee the charity expenditure. Their main job is to oversee the daily running of the charity, help in decision making and overall management decisions. For example, they may help in deciding the projects to spend grant funds on, and assist with recruiting, and fundraising efforts.

On the overall, you will need to make a decision on whether working without pay is for you and determine the kind of work you are willing to do for charity. It is imperative that you have a passion for the particular cause, and be realistic too, since you may not make as much as you would if you worked in the corporate field. Ideally, ensure that you like the charity jobs you are applying for before you get it.

Call 0845 094 8033 now and find your fundraising job

Why should your charity be selling charity cards?

With the current economic climate and government cutbacks really affecting charities, the way in which they generate revenue must evolve.

There has been a recent shift in fundraising behaviour where supporters (and consumers as a whole) prefer to give to charity through their consumer spend. Simply put, they want their donations to go unnoticed from their wallet to the charity. They were going to purchase the product in any case, so if a charity can benefit too, it’s a win-win situation. With this in mind, smart charities are starting to shift their fundraising messages.

Simply put, rather than just asking charities to give more, charities need to find ways where their supporters can switch their consumer spend from their existing suppliers to the charities.

Greeting Cards are a perfect low cost, low barrier to entry product to begin with. With greeting cards, there is no brand loyalty. People are simply not concerned whether they go into Clintons, Hallmark, Moonpig or their local Tesco to purchase their cards; they simply need to buy a card and pick a relevant one from those on display. This is perfect for charities, as changing such a small purchasing behaviour can make a huge difference for UK charities.

On average a person sends 31 greeting cards a year. The UK greeting card industry is worth more than tea and coffee put together. This gives you an idea of how huge this market is and the potential for your charity to take a slice of this market.

It was in a Mintel report that showed us one in five people try and buy charity cards whenever they can. The is huge! If some of these were charity cards, there is a possibility to raise money for charity from a previously untapped source. After all, the card market is worth £1.30 billion annually!

For further information, please visit www.joincharitygreetings.com or call 01923 827770

Charity Jobs | Fundraising charity work

Charity fundraisers main role is to raise money for the charitable organisation. This can involve organising parties’ and events for the public or approaching potential donors like corporate organisations in fund raising efforts. When doing this, you are looking to build a strong relationship with them, which will compel them to fund your projects effortlessly in the end. You may have to put together a volunteer team that will go door to door looking for funds and donations, but certainly, you will have to approach major corporations for funding for specific projects.

Charity support jobs

Charitable organisations require support staff to help them with the daily running of their projects. For instance, you work with people with learning difficulties by helping them as they do shopping or even visiting them at home. In this position, you will be reporting to the management as well as liaising with other voluntary organisations, often times this is a paid position.

Charity trustee jobs

A charity trustee is a volunteer that does not receive a salary or wage, but whose responsibility is to oversee the charity expenditure. Their main job is to oversee the daily running of the charity, help in decision making and overall management decisions. For example, they may help in deciding the projects to spend grant funds on, and assist with recruiting, and fundraising efforts.

On the overall, you will need to make a decision on whether working without pay is for you and determine the kind of work you are willing to do for charity. It is imperative that you have a passion for the particular cause, and be realistic too, since you may not make as much as you would if you worked in the corporate field. Ideally, ensure that you like the charity jobs you are applying for before you get it.

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Public liability insurance events | Things you must be aware of in terms of your public liability when you put on a charity event

Before you stick up those posters, book that radio ad or send an email out to your database to promote your charity event, you should find out what your public liability is in respect of those attending. Doing so will definitely help you a lot in covering yourself in the event of a claim arising from injury caused to a patron or employee or damage to property that you are staging the event at. Many have found out too late that this is necessary after some mishap has occurred. You should get the legal position from your charity lawyer and the public position from the government agency responsible. Then you can approach your insurance company for public liability coverage.

First, as said before get a legal opinion, there are several acts that cover what your responsibilities are when you are staging events in public and your duty to patrons both paying and non-paying. You might be surprised to find your charity still liable for injuries to a nonpaying patrons, staff members (perhaps you are having the event catered and this includes any waiters or chefs, etc) or even a stowaway! Also you are expected to have certain things in place for the general public to use. Government legislations might mandate that you have things like toilet facilities, paper or plastic cups instead of bottles and adequate security for the number of patrons you are expecting to your charity event.

Additionally, public liability insurance events coverage is a must as most of the above council permits would not be granted if you cannot get public liability insurance. Securing such insurance is straight forward and only entails to contact insurance companies that provide this type of public liability insurance and requesting a quote. However always shop around and do not accept the first quote that you get. Neither should you accept the lowest quote just to save money. The reason this is often so low is because the price of the policy isn’t the determining factor of your liability but the conditions. Always get a policy whose conditions or terms protect your charity, its employees and patrons visiting the event.  Public liability insurance for events coverage is a must. It protects the charity’s directors and employees from liabilities as a result of a third party’s damaged property or personal injuries.

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Conferences | Public Liability Insurance Charity

Jobs in charities | Top Tips

If you are straight out of school or university, or indeed this is your first working experience, to help get a job in the charity sector you should first start the process by volunteering for unpaid work with the charity of your choice.  Perhaps as an intern. Getting such a position would show the charity that you are committed to NGOs and charitable causes and will boost your chances should a paid job appear in the future. Receiving such experience is really vital and a good reference from a well-respected charity will really help your chances of getting your dream charity job.

Here’s a tip to get a foot in the door: You may know family or friends who already do some sort of volunteer work so you should see if you can join them. Another suggestion would be to go to a volunteer governmental agency and do the same.

Your CV would be greatly enhanced by your volunteer work and any prospective employer would be glad to know that they will not necessarily have to go through the process of training you for the job, as you will be able to hit the ground running; especially, if you are applying for a job in the same type of charity that you previously volunteered in. This would show any prospective employer that you have a passion for that particular type of charity niche and wish to work with those kinds of beneficiaries. For example if you volunteered in a homeless shelter and applied for a charity job in a homeless organisation, your chances may be better than if you were applying to an animal based charity.

Remember to get a volunteer job you should qualify yourself in the particular area that you want to work in. Charities are like businesses and are run in often a more stringent manner. They are businesses and all best business practices must be adhered to. Government rules and regulations must be observed and therefore any qualifications you already possess would greatly help your chances of getting a job in the charity sector.

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Insurance For Charities | How to choose the right insurance provider for your charity

Choosing the right insurance provider for your charity is paramount. There are many insurance companies offering specifically charity insurance cover, however care must be taken when looking around for this type of insurance. Be sure to spell out exactly what you want as far as this insurance coverage goes. What constitutes a good policy for one charity might not be a good buy for another type of charity.

Consider beforehand what you want in this insurance policy and whether there is  any hidden excess small print.

It is important to understand the amount of risk certain employees or fundraisers take whilst carrying out specific tasks for your charity.

For instance, you don’t want to purchase a policy and then in the event of a claim, find out that there is not enough coverage so the money is inadequate to cover the injury or loss suffered.

When selecting an Insurance company, consider their track record, ratings and history. Find out if the company offers rebates or special rates for charities, so that you don’t end up paying an exorbitant premium.

To quickly get information on an insurance company to use, go online and search for charity insurance quotes. You will come across several companies who will be willing to give you a quote for free based on the needs of your charity. Always get several quotes and sit down and go through them carefully looking at the various rates you have to pay and other conditions attached. If you don’t understand the charity insurance jargon, get an independent insurance agent to explain everything to you. This way you won’t end up with a policy that is useless when you file a claim.

It is also worth talking to other charities based in your niche and asking them which insurance companies they use. They may have had bad experiences with certain insurance companies in the past and it would be well in your own interests to stay clear of them.

On the flip side, a charity in your sector may have an insurance company they whole heartedly recommend. This would save you plenty of time trying to search for a reputable charity insurance provider and give you confidence in your selection.

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What impact charity wristbands have to raise awareness of the charity brand?

Charitable wristbands are being used by many organisations to promote awareness to their particular cause and to raise much needed funds.  It all started with Lane Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG yellow wristband which proved so popular many other charities have followed suit.

Some charities will give away these items, some will sell them and others will ask for a donation when presenting you with one. Truth be-told however you package it, these wristbands will add positively to your charity’s cause. Apart from their attractiveness, they alert the public to the fact that the wearer is a member of your charity or sympathise with your cause. Wristbands are also known by various names such as rubber bracelets or silicon wristbands and come in a wide variety of colors and designs.

Many organisations and charities interested in raising the awareness about their cause have nowadays been using wristbands effectively. From homeless shelters, cancer centers, HIV groups to benevolent societies, the wristband have been used effectively and continues to do so.

One of the major reasons that they are so effective is that most wearers don’t take them off. So, unlike an ad in a newspaper which runs for a day or a few and is them gone, they can give your charity weeks and months of free advertising. An added benefit is that family, friends and co-workers of the wearer may very well support your organization too. The social proof factor of their friend is wearing a wristband is incredibly valuable.

Wristbands are becoming even more sophisticated and several organizations are using them in ingenious ways. However silicone wristbands supporting good causes will continue to be a major piece of charity merchandise in promoting and raising awareness in the work and of organisations, such as yours, for some time to come. Make sure that your supporters can purchase quality wristbands.

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Charity CRM |What to look out for when it comes to choosing the best charity Customer Relationship Software

Many charities might not require the full features that most CRM software provides. Medium and large charities, however, definitely will if they want to manage their organisation in an efficient manner.

As these charities handle large amount of money ether contributed by donors or raised through fund raising activities, an efficient method needs to be in place to keep track of it all. Specialised software for charity and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been around for some time and those who use CRM software to manage their charities are able to provide a better service to the beneficiaries of the charity, Why? Because it allows the charity to keep up to date with every amount raised and spent allowing the charity to really streamline its operations. However before purchasing any king of CRM software it is important to have a look at some of the features.

These are some of the major factors to look for when you are ready to buy your charity content management relationship software. Keep in mind that the type of software you purchase or the package, should depend on the size and requirements of your organisation. Don’t buy expensive and complicated software, if you don’t have the staff for training or the charity is very small and can get by with less robust software. Always scale up your software as the charity grows. You may not have the funds to maintain the software and to bring in someone to train staff on the use of the software. This expense maybe too much for your small charity to handle. So tailor the charity management software to fit your organisation’s budget and database size.

When buying your software look out for these key features. You should have modules that could handle donor contributions and donor contact information all under the same module. Additionally, any CRM or Customer Relationship Management software should provide the charity with one centralised place, where all the information on donors and supporters are stored. This leads to greater efficiencies between different branches of the same charity and cuts out data redundancy. It will also improve efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation to get projects completed and help attracting new members and volunteers. Additionally Charity customer relationship management software systems can handle allocation of funds, grants and other services and keep track of them.

It should also allow quick retrieval of information in report form so that there can be a speedy and comprehensive look at the organisation’s funds and projects by donors, directors, staff and any regulatory authority should they request to do so at any time.

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Charity Collection |Legalities

Collecting funds for your charity should always be above board and should be able to take the scrutiny of both the legal fraternity and comply with whatever legislative framework that the government has in place to regulate to collection and soliciting of funds. Make no mistake, a bogus charity or one that is not keeping best business practices, can lead to a complaint to the Charity Commission and the closure of your charity. The publicity from any scandal would also make it hard for people to donate to you even if you were proven innocent.

Looking at some ways to have success with your charitable collections

Apart from sending out volunteers to hit the street with collection boxes, how about trying to be proactive and use available places where people already congregate and are sure to have cash in their hands. What am we suggestions? Well, below I shall point out some places that are good for charity collections. Bear in mind, you may need to get the approval of your local authorities to collect in these areas.

Supermarket: There is plenty of foot count and opportunity outside supermarkets. While shoppers are on the way into the supermarket, a polite approach for a donation will most likely be met with, "when I return" and most of them will return and place some change in the collection box. This may be so because they have change having just come from the cashier. If you can get a collection box placed next to the cashier, this is even better. You will definitely need permission from the supermarket to collect outside their premises.

Bank: Most banks will allow some sort of collection at their branches. This is successful because persons are either depositing or withdrawing money. A win-win situation for your charity, however do not be too overbearing and once again seek permission.

Children Events: Due to the desire to teach their kids the benefits of helping the less fortunate and becoming a caring individual, most people will give their kids money to place in a collection box or container. This avenue is a large revenue area for many charities. The good thing about this is that it raises awareness and compassion among kids about the benefits of giving and understanding the cause of your charity.

Therefore charitable collections should be high on your charity’s  agenda now due to the current economic situation.

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How charity collection boxes help charities fundraise

In order for UK charities to be efficient, dependable and help the beneficiaries the charity was set up for in the first place, they must raise funds to do this. Funds are raised in a number of ways but primarily through grants, donations, fundraising events and solicitations. These are the main revenue generating activities of charities both large and small and go a long way in securing the long term viability of the charity. To store the funds collected at fundraising events by fundraisers (often volunteers), most charities will use boxes, cans, tins or containers.

Charity collection boxes help in fundraising in a number of ways. They bring respectability and confidence to the donor when parting with their money. Isn’t it reassuring that your money is really going to a worthy cause if you drop your coins or stuff your dollars into a bucket which says "Salvation Army", than giving it to a person with a sponsor walk sheet or some other non-branded container?

Several charities are identified by the colors and design of their boxes and they serve as great advertising vehicles to increase donors and members to these charities. They also go a long way in increasing awareness in the particular charity’s cause. A person with a charity collection box looks more credible and is easily identifiable.

Additionally, a lot of collection boxes have security features that do not allow the easy retrieval of money from them. This feature alone allows for the charity to protect itself from unscrupulous volunteers who would retrieve the money for their personal use.

Charity cans, containers or boxes also cut out attempts at fraud by persons not associated with the charity because if you see an individual with a Red Cross box collecting money, immediately you can call the organisation and enquire if they have fundraising or are soliciting funds at that particular location. This could either be confirmed or denied therefore bringing the relevant authorities into play.

In a nutshell, charity collection boxes made charity fundraising, safe, trustworthy and secure and allows charities and not for profit organisation to raise more funds, awareness and respectability from their donors and employees alike.

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What different types of charity badges are available?

There are many suppliers of badges for charities but Rocket Charities have been established for many years and stand head and shoulders above any other suppliers.

Rocket Charities has supplied badges to several reputable charities and their pricing is competitive while ordering is easy with a fast turnaround.

Badges come in all types and materials from recycled plastic to metal and can be used for promotional purposes or to sell to your supporters and help with your fundraising goals.

Of course , they also raise awareness of your charity as your supporters wear them with pride.

Charity badges are a must have if you want to seriously promote your charity and in the meantime find a quick and easy way to raise some much needed funds. They are a non-intrusive way of getting your messages out there for your charity and any upcoming event such as an awareness week that your charity may be a part of, o an event the charity is having like a show, fund raiser or dinner.

People don’t think twice when buying small mementos of these types of occasion to remember and of course to support the charity at the same time. Therefore having badges as keepsakes prove very popular with event goers.

Promotional Badges

Promotional badges are preferred by fundraising departments of almost all charities, no matter of size, because they go a long way in promoting the charity. They promote the image and increase the awareness of the charity at a relatively low cost when compared with traditional advertising such as newspaper or television advertising . They can be used in a variety of ways whether on clothing, bags, key-rings, and refrigerator and many other places.

Promotional badges are custom made to fit the organization’s logo with messages or its motto. As most charities depend heavily on donations to fund their day to day existence, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find donors. Also donors really want to feel special and like to receive some token of appreciation. No matter how any donations are collected or indeed how much it is, it is nice to give something back to the donor and that could be in the form of a pin-badge.

With donations decreasing due to the current economic climate, charities are returning to more traditional avenues of fundraising and charity merchandise to sell, like charity badges, is back up to top of their list.

Types of Badges

You will also find that charity badges will come in different types such as lapel, metal, shaped, glitter, key-rings, medals and cufflinks. It is important to find out your target audience, budget and occasion before deciding on the type of charity badges you want. At Rocket Charities, we can offer you guidance.

Rest assured, Rocket Charities will be delighted to service you and offer any advice that might be required.

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