What you should be looking for in your next agency

Whether you work with us or not, we are keen to ensure that people focus on the right qualities and right metrics when looking for their next Face-to-Face agency.

The most important thing for any significant investment is what will be our Return on Investment when working with this new agency?  Our National Fundraising Development Manager Ross Wiggan, who spent 14 years launching and running Lotteries and also Regular Giving campaigns at Sue Ryder has written an article on this key metric, Click Here to read this

The ROI you can expect to make will differ greatly based on the agency you choose.  This can vary because of their costs, their refund guarantees, but the biggest impact will come from they who they recruit as new donors for you and what value gifts they offer them.

You need an agency that knows the following;

What their projected 5 year ROI is based off actual data and not assumptions.  Don't just take their word for it, ask for proof, ask to see their calculations. 

We break our ROI down into 10 year age bandings to show exactly how much a donor in their 30’s 40’ 50 and so on will make you.  By breaking this down using actual data, we can then see how to optimise your ROI, by recruiting more of the donors with the highest return.

Who are their fundraisers? Many agencies employ anyone with a pulse and send out teams of fundraisers who struggle to build rapport with the types of donors who will be with you for the long term, instead targeting just anyone they can find.

Here at The Fundraising Partnership, we specialise in recruiting the right fundraisers, giving people the flexibility to work around other commitments. By recruiting ex-professionals such as Teachers, Accountants and Managers who are looking to give back to their local communities, many in the latter stages of their career. We are able to train our fundraisers to a higher standard and they are able to relate to the key donor age groups who the data shows are most likely to both donate monthly and leave you a gift in their will.  Click here to take a look at the video we created about the types of donors we recruit.

Does your agency outsource to 3rd parties? When an agency outsources to a 3rd party agency, otherwise known as subcontracting, all the research you have done, all the references and controls you have in place are lost. You will not have the same contact or control over the 3rd party as you do the agency you employed and are contracted too. This type of subcontracting model can result in lower quality recruitment and complaints if not managed correctly. The 3rd party also has the ability to back away from your campaign at a moments notice, leaving the agency you employed clambering round for new resources, that cost you time, money and materials to retrain and restock.

This subcontracting model is currently under review by the Fundraising Regulator and rules may be introduced closing this loophole.

Here at The Fundraising Partnership we directly manage all our fundraisers.  Some are employed, others choose to be self employed, giving them the freedom to choose their hours that can fit around family commitment.  We do not subcontract - we put too much effort into making sure your reputation is in safe hands to pass this responsibility onto a 3rd party.  

Make sure you do your research. Are the company financially stable? Who have they worked with in the past that they no longer represent - often these are the best references to get rather than the ones the agency will put you in contact with.

Many charities get caught up with asking about policies, GDPR and complaints handling. Every agency you speak to will have things in place to cover these and whilst you need to check that box, make sure you also look at who your account manager will be, what’s their experience and are they able to influence decision making within the agency. Ask to sit in and view some of their training sessions with new fundraisers before you sign up - this will give you an amazing insight into the agency and the type of fundraiser who will be the face of your organisation.

Here at The Fundraising Partnership, our Managing Director and CEO will be your main points of contact. They take pride in overseeing every campaign making sure your needs are met and your voice has an equal footing.

All of our fundraiser training takes place online, with video modules and comprehension tests, ensuring consistency is maintained and understanding checked and recorded.  Final training takes place online with our CEO.  This is for a maximum of two candidates at a time, ensuring each fundraiser gets the time and space they need to get to grips with the charity they will be representing and they understand the requirements of being the best charity ambassador they can be.