Revealed: The 10 charity fundraising tactics which annoy you most

Fed-up Brits made more than 180 complaints per day last year about charities pestering them for donations, a report has found.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jul 2016, 10:00 BST
Updated 5th Jul 2016, 11:17 BST
On-street chuggers were among the 10 most-complained about methods employed by charities.On-street chuggers were among the 10 most-complained about methods employed by charities.
On-street chuggers were among the 10 most-complained about methods employed by charities.

The annual Fundraising Standards Board Complaints Report recorded a total of 66,814 complaints - an increase of six per cent on 2014.

It found just one per cent of charities generate 60 per cent of these complaints, with 500 of the nation's biggest fundraisers responsible for 98 per cent of grievances.

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The report follows the death last year of Olive Cooke, 92, who killed herself after enduring repeated requests from charities, failing health and sleepless nights.

Today's report found Brits are most annoyed with addressed mail and telephone fundraising, which accounted for 60 per cent of all fundraising complaints.

Top 10 most-complained-about fundraising methods in 2015

1. Addressed mail (27,089)

2. Telephone fundraising (13,322)

3. Doorstep face-to-face (8,497)

4. Clothing collections (5,342)

5. Email fundraising (2,441)

6. Outdoor events (1,634)

7. Private site face-to-face (1,359)

8. Lotteries (1,094)

9. Street face-to-face (1,033)

10. Raffles (855)

Andrew Hind, chair of the Fundraising Standards Board, called on charities to "command the respect and approval" of the general public.

He said: "While we must continually stress the essential need for charities to fundraise energetically and innovatively, charities must find ways to ensure that their fundraising approaches minimise any concern to the public.

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"Fundraising should always be a positive experience that reflects the charity's own values and the importance of its supporters.

"The public's dislike of some fundraising methods highlights the need for charities to listen ever more carefully to supporter feedback and adapt their fundraising strategies in line with those views.

"2015 was a turning point in the relationship between charities and the UK public.

"During the year, the sector made many improvements to fundraising standards and a new regulatory structure is to be launched later this week.

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"But in the end, charity fundraising will only achieve its potential and public trust be fully restored if charities ensure that their future fundraising is undertaken in a way which always commands the respect and approval of their supporters and the general public."

Related topics:Lotteries