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Fundraising FAQs

A list of helpful questions (and answers) that cover information either commonly requested by supporters or would prove helpful to supporters taking part in events coordinated by the Fundraising Events Team.

1. Why should I raise money for ActionAid?

ActionAid is a very well respected charity with over 30 years experience of effectively tackling poverty. The poor people we work with are at very the heart of everything we do.

If you decide to fundraise for us you will be making a direct difference to the lives of some of the most marginalised and excluded people in the world.

Cost efficiency and transparency are crucial elements to our work and in 2006 we won the ‘Most Innovative Charity’ award. We are completely secular organisation and are not influenced by any governments, in the UK or overseas.

At the same time you will receive excellent ongoing support from the Fundraising Events team to help you every step of the way!

ActionAid links:
Who we are

2. Why would I choose ActionAid over another charity?

ActionAid work in long-term partnerships with communities and local organisations, which means that the people who are most affected by the issues are deciding for themselves what needs to be done and how they will do it. Elfinesh

This also allows communities to confront the issues and causes that are making them poor, rather than just seeking a quick fix. Our international Headquarters is based in the South (Johannesburg, S Africa) showing a real commitment to putting poor countries at the heart of our work. It creates an equal platform for people in all countries, North and South, rich and poor, to share innovation, experience and decision-making.

Wherever possible, we employ people from the country of origin, as they are best placed to really understand and tackle the poverty issues that are keeping their people poor.

ActionAid links:
More about ActionAid international
ActionAid International's website

3. Why should I use MyActionAid rather than other online fundraising services?

By using my MyActionAid you can link into a vast resource of information on poverty issues and join the 250,000 unique visitors that use the site each year. What an audience for your fundraising! By using my MyActionAid you can share your thoughts, opinions and photos, with your friends and family before they sponsor you. Help - training

You will also be able to make friends and contact other ActionAid supporters by sharing your views and fundraising experiences with us. Other online services charge ActionAid a sizeable commission, which is taken out of your fundraising and/or Gift Aid before it comes to us. With MyActionAid there is no middleman.

4. What kind of support would ActionAid offer me if I decide to fundraise?

Once you register as a fundraiser for us we will provide you with a full fundraising pack with ideas and guidance to help get you started. We will also provide dedicated fundraising support and advice along the way, either face to face or over the phone, and you will have access to resources and fundraising materials.

ActionAid also organises lots of information days, and training weekends (for our more active events) throughout the year where you can meet us and other supporters.

ActionAid links:
Fundraise in the UK

5. How many people are currently fundraising for ActionAid?

Over 190,000 people actively donate funds to ActionAid each year. Of those around 4,000 people raise money through fundraising events and activities. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and commitment but they also tell us that they have a load of fun along the way, and get a great sense of achievement at the end of it. Why not join them and you can make a real difference too?

ActionAid links:
Fundraise in the UK

6. What kind of things can I do to raise money for ActionAid?

Help - other activity Anything you want, within reason and the law! There are hundreds of ways in which you can raise money for ActionAid, so whether you take part in one of our national events (24 Hour Tea & Coffee Break, Lick Child Poverty Day, Singing for Action) run a marathon, take part in an overseas challenge or organise your own independent fundraising event - we will provide you with resources and ideas to help you decide what will work best for you.

ActionAid links:
Fundraise in the UK

7. How do I know where my money will go?

All funds sent to ActionAid are tracked and externally audited, as are all associated costs. This information is freely available.

Unless specifically arranged all donations go to our Global Fund. This enables ActionAid to undertake our vital work immediately, wherever the need arises around the world.

Emergencies, tsunami’s, earthquakes, droughts, floods and conflicts are classic examples of where the global fund is so crucial.

We don’t have time to raise awareness and funds after the crisis has hit, but need to go in immediately with help, support and life saving provisions. Without the global fund this would not be possible.

Many countries are also forgotten. There are many hidden emergencies and extreme levels of poverty and suffering that do not get any media attention in the UK, making it hard for us to raise funds directly for them. ActionAid’s global fund benefits millions of poor people throughout all the countries we work in. Help image - schools

ActionAid’s campaigning and lobbying, nationally and globally, is also crucial to tackle the root causes of poverty. Poverty has many causes –most of which are in the control of people in power. Governments and big business have the power to end world poverty. Millions of people in poor countries are being exploited by unfair trade rules, which benefit rich countries and big business. Most aid donated by rich countries is failing to help people get out of poverty.

The cycle of poverty will continue until we can persuade powerful people, through our global fund’s campaigning and lobbying, to end it.

Our Education Department, which has won many awards over the years, is also able to work with schools throughout UK to provide materials and resources for children to learn about the lives of children and communities where ActionAid works – a crucial part of their development as a world citizen.

ActionAid links:
Global review - Taking stock II
Schools

8. How much money are you given each year?

ActionAid’s total income globally in 2004 was £91m. This rose by 27% in 2005 to £115m, of which £71m was raised in the UK.

ActionAid links:
Annual report - ActionAid International

9. How many supporters do you have?

As of December 2005 the UK the number of supporters who fund our work on a regular basis is around 197,049

10. How much of the money I raise does ActionAid spend on admin?

Relatively, very little is spent on administration.

Overall about 20p of every £1 raised is retained in the UK. These monies fund our education work with schools throughout the UK, press and media work, campaigning and lobbying, costs of fundraising, office premises, recruitment, salaries, volunteer expenses, promotional materials, auditing and administration.

If we were a corporate and only used 20% to cover operational costs we would have one of the highest returns on investment in the country!

ActionAid links:
Annual report - ActionAid International

11. What are the main focuses of ActionAid’s work?

We prioritise our wok into 6 key themes:

HIV/AIDS
Food and hunger
Women’s rights
The right to education
The right to human security
The right to just governance

ActionAid links:
What we do

12. Can I send ActionAid cash or goods?

We would prefer that you did not send cash through the post, as per post office recommendations. If you send goods to us we would have to find a way to convert them into money so that we could pay this into the bank and utilise for our work, so it would be appreciated if you did not send goods unless there was a specific appeal from us.

13. Can I get involved with ActionAid in my local area?

Help - other activity2 ActionAid has over 40 ActionAid Supporter Groups based around the UK. We even have groups in Guernsey, Brussels, Luxembourg and Gibraltar. Our supporter groups are absolutely vital to us both through the income they raise and the awareness they generate for ActionAid. They get involved in a huge variety of fundraising activities such as sponsored walks, quizzes, coffee mornings, concerts and much much more.

If you would like to find out if there is a group in your area please contact us at events@actionaid.org We can also support you with organising a fundraising event of your own in your area or with setting up a group of your own.

ActionAid links:
What you can do

14. What else can I do apart from fundraising?

Help - campaigner There are plenty of options available if you don’t want to get involved in fundraising directly but would like to help us spread the word about ActionAid and our vital work. Why not help us promote our events- we can provide you with as many leaflets/posters and as much information as you need. If you are a qualified teacher you could join our Visiting Teachers Network. Our visiting teachers give educational talks on ActionAid’s work to schools in their local area.

You could also become a campaigner and help tackle the root causes of poverty, volunteer in either our London or Chard office, join an existing ActionAid Supporter Group or encourage others such as your company, University, place or worship or community group to support us.

ActionAid links:
What you can do