Face-2-face fundraising FAQs in web and PDF formats
At the heart of our charity's fundraising approach is to engage new supporters, enhance awareness, and raise vital national funds, ensuring our charity has the resources to fulfil the needs of those we seek to serve.
To broaden our fundraising initiatives, our Trustees approved face-to-face fundraising in 2022. This activity is achieved through specialised fundraising agencies. Their professional fundraisers engage with members of the public on our behalf at events and retail outlets and ask to have a conversation about our charity, leading to a very professional ‘ask’ for financial support through a regular donation by direct debit.
Which fundraising agencies do we work with?
We currently work with two agencies, CF Fundraising and Gilcore. Both agencies were carefully chosen based on their reputation, client references and performance.
Each agency employs very experienced professional fundraisers, some of whom are veterans. We are confident in their professionalism and behaviour, having undertaken ‘mystery shopping.’
To effectively represent us on the ground, the teams have been briefed on the work our charity does, the services we deliver and how the organisation is structured.
How do the face-to-face fundraising teams operate?
The agencies conduct fundraising by:
1. Booking stalls at events such as tradeshows and county shows.
2. Securing permission to engage with the public at shopping centres and at retail sites such as Tesco, Asda, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s.
The professional fundraisers engage with members of the public and ask to have a conversation about our charity, leading to a very professional ‘ask’ for financial support. This could be signing up to donate regularly via direct debit or play the SSAFA weekly lottery.
Where are we currently fundraising?
The face-to-face fundraising activities are currently focused on counties across England.
Where does the money from this initiative go?
The direct debit donations we receive are crucial in supporting our charitable activities, from volunteer management activities to the national recruitment campaigns and training provision; and vital funding for core services such as Forcesline, Norton House, Gildea House, and the family support groups.
How do we keep local branch representatives informed?
We send Branch Chairs and/or Secretaries an email with details of where the fundraising teams are working on a weekly basis. On receiving the information, if you observe that your volunteers will be in the same location, and on the same day, please let us know immediately.
What are the collaboration opportunities?
We strive to work in unison with our volunteers to maximise awareness. Whenever and wherever possible, our volunteers join forces with our fundraisers to interact with members of the community who require and qualify for our assistance. These opportunities are mostly possibly at events such as county fairs, military shows and tradeshows, but not at shopping centres and retail outlets due to space limitations and restrictions imposed by the businesses.
Contact us
For more information, please email us at [email protected]