Will I have to travel far for interviews and training?
Nowadays, we conduct initial interviews by phone and prefer to conduct initial training on-line via SKYPE, but we may have to meet face to face at a mutually convenient location - often at the charity's local office.
I don’t like performance related pay. Why don't you just pay a good basic hourly / weekly rate?
We guarantee the hourly rate during the Trial Period, so as to reduce the financial risk to those new to, or unsure about the work. We have had to devise an earnings scheme to reward well those Promoters who are strongly motivated to find new donors/members for the charity. Our existing Promoters will agree that the earnings scheme we have devised works well. After many years of experience, we find that working on a performance basis gives the best results for all parties. Because of this, your earnings will inevitably vary from week to week. If you require a job that will give you an entirely predictable income from an entirely predictable number of hours, then this is definitely not the job for you!
Do you cover motoring expenses?
No, but we could pay some of your fuel expenses - it depends on where you live in relation to your work area.
Surely this is a very expensive way of recruiting new donors/ members. How does the charity benefit?
Our method finds both new donors/members and new sources of predictable and unrestricted income for the charity. All charitable fundraising incurs costs of some sort, even work carried out by volunteers. In this scheme, all the Direct Debits that are entered into by new donors/members are directly in favour of the charity. We know from 15+ years experience that when donors agree to contribute in this scheme, paying by Direct Debit with an amount of their own choosing, they are likely to contribute for an average of 7 years. This means that each new donor found (+ tax that can be reclaimed via Gift Aid) will end up giving an average of £500 to the charity. Overall, it costs the charity about 15 % of the total amount raised to take part in this scheme. NB. The charity does not pay any sort of fee unless a Direct Debit is agreed upon. All the financial risks are borne by FMR Solutions. The charity’s income is protected by a refund scheme. The cost to the charity is declared in the Statutory Disclosure.
What if someone just wants to make a cash donation?
We do not deal with cash under any circumstances. But, a member of the public can make a cheque donation if they wish. We do not normally charge the charity for monies collected by cheque. We do not normally pay a reward to Promoters for cheque transactions.
I've heard a lot of unfavourable reports recently about charities doing public collections. Why is this scheme any different?
We don't put people into the potentially embarrassing position of having to make a decision on the spot. Nor do we make any attempt to engage with people who tell us they are not interested. As people are paying by Direct Debit they are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee. People can easily cancel a Direct Debit if they feel they have been pressurised. Our soft approach method ensures that donors are not put in an uncomfortable position.
Won't people refuse to give their bank details?
This has been known to happen, but because we work in an honest and ethical way, most people feel entirely comfortable dealing with us. We always make sure that any personal details are kept secure. A very small minority of donors/members will prefer to deal directly with the charity.
Will I have to carry a heavy bag full of brochures?
No. The most that you'll ever need to carry is 20 A5 sized booklets and/or a hard-backed display folder in a small “daypack”, an ID Badge, a pen or two and a compact umbrella.
|
Will I have to work to a script?
Yes, you'll be using the Soft Approach, but it's very short and you can invest some of your own personality into it!
What about working in bad weather?
You must be prepared to work when it's raining. The use of an umbrella is essential. It's most unlikely that it would be too wet, too windy and too cold on a regular basis to prevent any kind of work. Some of our long-term Promoters choose to work all year round – though most opt for a 6-8 week break in midwinter.
Will I have to work in the dark?
It’s up to you. During November-February you would usually try to start work in daylight and attempt to complete your “first calls” in daylight.
Why is it advised to have a car or bicycle?
You frequently find that you have to make several return visits to collect the booklets and talk to potential donors/members. Without the convenience of your own transport, there will be lots extra walking and time involved, particularly after doing the job for a while, if you try to do it exclusively on foot/public transport. However, if you really like walking/running and have plenty of spare time, it is still possible to do the work without your own transport.
Can I approach my friends and family to obtain donors/members?
Yes, but we are looking for committed supporters. We don't want people joining only to cancel their Direct Debit a few weeks later. It is not recommended to approach friends and family until you are very familiar with the method. The method is designed specifically to work on the doorstep.
I can't believe that this method will work. Won't people be annoyed if I knock on their doors – especially when they might be busy?
This method really does work! If people have an interest in the charity, they'll make time for you even if they are in the middle of something else! It is rare that people will be upset or annoyed with an unsolicited house caller unless that caller makes a nuisance of him/herself and won't take no for an answer. People only get annoyed with rude, foot in the door salespeople or religious zealots.
Will it work in my area?
It will work in any area where there are people with disposable income. But it's never a good idea to prejudge an individual's or an area’s predisposition to react favourably or unfavourably to this sort of approach. It's also unwise to make any assumptions at all about people's apparent wealth or their inclination to support charitable causes.
Will I have to wear a uniform?
No. You work in your own clean and casual clothing. Sometimes, the charity may request you to wear a “tabard” or some other identifying garment. No formal suits and ties required.
|