blog

I just got a call at my office from Canadian Foster Families Association, asking me for a donation towards taking some kids on a bus to a Christmas play or whatever. I decided to give them some money, but I had an amount in mind, so I told her what I could give. But the fundraiser on the other end of the phone proceeded to try to talk me into sponsoring a whole bus of kids, then a half bus, which was more than I was willing to contribute. I told her “I said I can give X,” to which she replied, “Sorry, but we only sell these amounts in packages.” I said, “Surely you can take any amount of donation?” “No m’am, we can’t.” “That’s not very flexible, is it?” She kept talking, trying to talk me into a “package”, so I finally said, “I am at work here, and have to get back to it. Goodbye,” and I hung up on her.

This is not the way to fundraise. She could have gotten me off the phone very quickly with my donation commitment, and proceeded to call other people, trying to get the package. Instead she wasted my time and her time, and did not get any money.

Fundraisers have to make it easier for the people they call, offer flexible donation options, direct them to a website with more information, don’t insist on your own structure. All I really want to do is get off the phone once I’ve made a decision to donate. I don’t have all day to listen to explanations.

Better luck next time. I am sorry about those kids not getting my contribution, so I may just send it in anyway.

But this could have been so much easier and more pleasant.