A street fundraiser is an employee of a charity (or a company working on behalf of a charity) who is paid to stand in the street and approach passers-by to convince them to donate money to the charitable cause he/she is promoting. The acquisition of funds through face to face street donations has been shown to be the most cost effective method of fundraising for charities compared to costly (and often ineffective) television, radio and newspaper campaigns.
Chuggers
A chugger (contraction of charity mugger) is a colloquial term referring to a specific type of street fundraiser that solicits long-term arrangements (such as standing orders or direct debits), rather than cash. By securing long term donations, charities are able to plan future campaigns in the knowledge that they have a guaranteed amount of money to work with. Street fundraisers also serve to raise awareness of small charities and highlight the importance of new campaigns in larger more well known organisations.
Opinion polls suggest high levels of public hostility towards chuggers, with as many as 80 per cent of those interviewed being against charity muggers [Source: Times Online [1] ]. Under present UK law, 'chugging' is legal as charity muggers are not themselves soliciting cash donations, rather standing orders or Direct Debits. However, unlike most charitable fundraisers, charity muggers are paid for their services. In the United Kingdom, they are legally obliged to point out to potential donors that they are paid to speak to them and a code of practice, the PFRA exists to ensure that this happens and that all fundraisers conduct themselves in a manner acceptable to the charity.
Charities that employ chuggers
- Save the Children
- Oxfam
- NSPCC
- RNLI
- RSPCA
- British Red Cross
- Greenpeace
- Mencap
- Friends of the Earth
- Sense
- Amnesty International
- IDCS
- War Child
- The Soil Association
- Concern
- Plan Europe
- Debra Ireland