Door to door fundraising

The simple answer is, because it works. Face to face fundraising allows us to find new donors who give on a regular basis. This regular gift is given by a direct debit which means we are able to predict our income and invest in long-term scientific research.

This method of fundraising also allows us to speak to people that we might not be able to reach via other more traditional methods, such as mail. For example, we have found that those in their 20s and 30s are much more likely to give via this method.

Our fundraising groups also carry out house to house collections in their local area. To collect in a public place the group or committee has to get permission from their local authority.

The main difference between our fundraising groups and our professional fundraisers is that the fundraising groups will be asking for cash donations into a collection tin, bucket or envelope, whereas our paid fundraisers are only allowed to accept direct debits.

Yes, some of our fundraisers are paid a wage to fundraise on our behalf. They are always paid a set hourly rate, and are not working on a commission model. We do this to try to ensure that our fundraisers are motivated by our cause and not by the monetary incentive of working for commission. This is also done to avoid fundraisers whose approach is too ‘salesy’ or pushy.

We only use paid fundraisers where we are sure we will receive a profitable return on our investment in them. This means that the cost of paying the fundraiser is significantly outweighed by the number of donations we receive, ensuring this is an effective way to raise funds.

Our fundraising groups however are volunteers and are not paid.

As well as raising funds for our life-saving work, our fundraisers are also able to act as knowledgeable ambassadors and tell our supporters about the progress we’re making in the fight against cancer.

We hold regular training sessions with all of our paid fundraisers to teach them about Cancer Research UK and our work. We also send them monthly newsletters to keep them up to date and as informed as possible.

We aim to make all of our fundraisers easily recognisable. Our paid fundraisers will be wearing a blue Cancer Research UK branded jacket, jumper, or t-shirt and will always be carrying an ID badge with their name, photo and fundraiser number. They also carry a contact number which can be called to verify the fundraiser is genuine, if you are concerned. They will also hold up to date information on Cancer Research UK and our work, and will be able to advise where to go for further information on the charity or cancer itself.

Our fundraising groups, who are not paid will be collecting cash donations in their local area, and will be carrying a house to house collector’s badge which they will be happy to present if you are concerned.

If you have any other questions about our fundraising, please visit our fundraising FAQ pages for further information.

Alternatively, if you can’t find the answer to your question, or you would like to speak to someone about our fundraising please contact our Supporter Services team on 0300 123 1861, or send your questions to supporter.services@cancer.org.uk. We will endeavour to respond to your email within 5 working days.