Charity bags, clothing banks, addressed mail and digital marketing also attract criticism
For the first time, door-to-door fundraising has generated more complaints than any other method both made directly to the Fundraising Regulator (FR).
The new data was published in the FR’s latest Annual Complaints Report, covering the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
It analyses both complaints made to the regulator directly from members of the public and fundraising complaints received by a sample of 58 of the UK’s largest fundraising charities.
Door-to-door fundraising complaints totalled just over 15% of complaints (60 out of 399) made directly to the FR.
The total number of complaints received by charities about door-to-door fundraising more than doubled, rising by 110% (from 1,936 to 4,056) compared to 2021/22. Over one in five complaints received by the sample charities concerned door-to-door fundraising.
The increase in door-to-door fundraising complaints is evenly spread across sample charities and is in keeping with the pattern of complaints about this method increasing since 2020/21.
While the number of sample charities using door-to-door fundraising increased in 2022/23 (30 compared with 25 in 2021/22), overall activity levels increased by less than 20%, so this alone is not enough to explain the doubling in complaints to charities.
There are several potential causes for the increased levels of complaints about door-to-door fundraising – including poor behaviour from fundraisers, particularly from third-party and subcontractors; higher rates of home working; and a general increase in the activity since the pandemic.
The most common complaints around fundraising methods to the Fundraising Regulator after door-to-door fundraising remained consistent with previous years – charity bags and clothing banks, addressed mail, and digital marketing. Online appeals drew the second-highest number of complaints made directly to the sample charities, followed by addressed mail then challenge and sponsorship events.
Jenny Williams, chair of the FR’s complaints and investigations committee, said: “This year’s Annual Complaints Report sees a continuation of themes that have been established in previous reporting periods, but importantly marked the first time that door-to-door fundraising generated more complaints than any other method.
“While door-to-door fundraising remains an effective method for charities, both in terms of securing donations and increasing awareness, the marked increase in complaints does indicate that there are higher risks involved in this activity and that it is increasingly disliked by members of the public.
“It is therefore important for charities to remain vigilant and ensure sufficient care is taken to make sure all fundraising, particularly methods that engage directly with the public, especially those who are potentially vulnerable, is fully compliant with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
“We will continue to work closely with charities to help ensure they have the guidance and tools they need to fundraise responsibly.”
Scotland has its own fundraising regulatory ecosystem, with the FR regulating the sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, it has a lead role where charities primarily registered in these three countries fundraise in Scotland.
