As you know, Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. In 2011 we cared for around 16,000 dogs through our network of 18 rehoming centres across the UK and with our new Loughborough Centre just opened we expect to care for even more. With almost 100% of our funding coming from voluntary donations it is vital that we continue to attract new supporters if we are to give more and more lost and abandoned dogs the second chance they deserve.
We have found that speaking to people about the work that we do is a great way for us to not only raise funds but to also raise awareness. For this reason we have dedicated teams of fundraisers who speak to supporters either by going door to door, in venues such as shopping centres and supermarkets, or over the phone. Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction, and the work of these fundraisers is vital in bringing us closer to this day.
Face to Face
Come rain or shine our fundraisers are out and about speaking about our vital work, at events, shows, on doorsteps, or in busy locations around the country, and promoting our Sponsor a Dog scheme.
Fundraising in this way increases the number of supporters donating regularly via direct debit. This is vital to our work because it enables us to plan for the future, to direct our funds where they are needed most, and ultimately to help even more needy dogs.
Our fundraisers can only accept donations via direct debit and are not authorised to accept donations in cash or cheques. Please be assured that setting up a gift by direct debit is completely safe. The Direct Debit Scheme protects you and your money by means of the Direct Debit Guarantee.
The Direct Debit Guarantee This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request the organisation to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. |
Our face to face fundraisers ask for a donation of £2 per week (£8.67 a month) to sponsor a dog. Face to face fundraising is currently our largest source of new supporters, and brings in funds without which we would be unable to continue our work to help stray and abandoned dogs across the UK.
We understand that face to face fundraising may not be to everybody’s taste, but we find that, when handled responsibly and within the relevant guidelines we work with, such as the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association Code of Practice, most people are comfortable with such fundraising methods. In fact, some people prefer it as it gives them the opportunity to ask questions about our work and discuss the different ways in which they can help.
Meet our Fundraisers
We take pride in the knowledge, enthusiasm and quality of our fundraisers and go to great lengths to ensure they are well trained and excellent ambassadors for Dogs Trust. All of our campaigns are closely monitored to ensure that our representatives adhere to all regulations and Code of Practice of the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association.
Every fundraiser working on the Dogs Trust campaign has been issued with the following:
- a Dogs Trust yellow tabard, branded T-shirt or fleece (as shown in the photo below)
- a personalised letter on Dogs Trust headed paper to verify they are genuine fundraiser;
- an ID card, with their name, photograph, fundraiser number and details of the agency the fundraiser works for.
If you have any comments or concerns about our face to face fundraising campaign or any of our fundraisers please contact us here. If you have recently spoken to someone claiming to represent Dogs Trust, and you would like to check if they are an authorised fundraiser, it would help us greatly if you can give as much information about your encounter as possible. E.g. where you met the fundraiser, on what date, the fundraiser’s name, a description of the fundraiser, etc.
We rely on the fundraising organisation we work with, and their fundraisers, to represent Dogs Trust in a manner that is both professional and 'fitting to the personality of Dogs Trust'. As a charity we receive no government funding and rely 100% on supporter donations. Put simply, we cannot continue to work towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life free from the threat of unnecessary destruction without the kind support we receive from members of the public, and hence the work of these individuals is vital to Dogs Trust. We have a strict code of conduct with regards to the fundraisers who are representing Dogs Trust. These people are ‘the face of Dogs Trust’ and they may be introducing the charity to the people they meet for the first time. For this reason, if you ever have any comments or concerns about any of our fundraisers, please contact us here giving us as much information as possible.
“For me, working outside is definitely a big bonus, I just don’t think I’m cut-out for an office job. I really enjoy speaking to people about Sponsor a Dog scheme, it’s a really fun campaign AND it raises money for all the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres.” - Dogs Trust Fundraiser
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“I’ve been working as a fundraiser for Dogs Trust on Sponsor a Dog for over three years now, and take great pleasure in knowing that my work makes a difference for so many dogs. I’ve always been a dog lover, but I’ve never been in a position to take one on - now at least I know that I’m doing my bit!” - Dogs Trust Fundraiser