Face-to-face and telephone fundraising

VSO is delighted to be continuing our face-to-face fundraising programme in partnership with Gather Campaigns and Zen Fundraising. 

Face to face fundraising (including via door-to-door and at private sites), and telephone fundraising, are some of the most cost-effective ways of recruiting and engaging new regular supporters, as well as raising awareness of the work we do. 

Face to face and telephone fundraising has helped us raise millions of pounds in vital income. Because of the generous gifts from our supporters via  regular giving we can plan for the future and offer even more support to the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities. 

We work with specialist agencies who help us coordinate and carry out our campaigns. All fundraisers undergo thorough training prior to starting work and are monitored closely by us and the agency they work for. 

When choosing an agency to fundraise for VSO, we undertake a rigorous procurement process to ensure they meet our standards in terms of compliance and approach to fundraising. It’s equally important to us that the fundraisers we work with are as passionate about our work as we are. 

The conduct of our fundraisers

Our monitoring processes ensure that all VSO fundraisers meet members of the public with high levels of respect and courtesy. Our fundraisers work within guidelines and regulations set out by the Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice (the Code) and Institute of Fundraising Compliance Rule Book

We welcome any comments you have about our fundraisers and take any complaints extremely seriously. If you would like to speak to us about the conduct of our fundraisers or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly supporter care team on 020 8780 7500 or by emailing enquiry@vsoint.org.

Areas where we fundraise

Our face-to-face fundraising teams work regionally across the UK. If you’d like to check that a fundraiser is legitimate, or have any other questions, please contact our friendly Supporter Care Team by email enquiry@vsoint.org or by phone on 020 8780 7500.

How do I know if a fundraiser is genuine?

Youth teaching her mother about early marriages using a Talking Book
Chosa Mweemba

Telephone fundraising

Telephone fundraising is one of the most cost-effective ways for us to raise money to fund the vital work of VSO volunteers around the world.

All of our fundraisers will be trained on how to make you feel as comfortable as possible about their legitimacy as a VSO representative.

VSO face-to-face fundraisers will:

  • display as identification badge with an official logo, their name and a photo.
  • have clear VSO branding on their clothing and supporting materials.

VSO telephone fundraisers will:

  • start the call by explaining that they are calling on behalf of VSO.
  • explain that they are fundraisers working for a professional fundraising agency, when a donation is taken during the call. We work with Ethicall to make our fundraising calls, you can learn more about them at: https://www.vsointernational.org/telephone-fundraising

If you are still unsure and would like to check whether we called your number or had fundraisers in your area, please feel free to email our Supporter Care team at enquiry@vsoint.org or call us on 020 8780 7500.