Stop sending free gifts, charities told

MAILSHOTS bearing free gifts caused the largest number of complaints to the charities watchdog last year.

There were a total of 42,782 complaints to the Fundraising Regulator in 2016, with more than 16,000 relating to direct mail.

Of those 80 per cent were about gifts, such as stationery and cards, which many people dismissed as a waste of their donations.

Almost 900 charities provided data for the report – and admitted posting 300 million pieces of mail in 2016. The Red Cross, which sent out bookmarks, coasters and notebooks, said the gifts ‘typically’ cost up to 7p each, but refused to disclose the total cost.

It added: ‘Every pound we spend on our fundraising appeals helps us to raise over £3, a significant return.’

The Mother Teresa Children’s Foundation spent £264,383 on mail and gifts in its latest annual accounts. Save the Children said it spent £60,000 on postage and gifts in Christmas appeal mailing, helping to generate £421,000, while the Cancer Recovery Foundation spent £388,229 in a year on mailing costs.

But charity supporters told The Mail on Sunday the gifts irritated them.

Barbara Smith, 90, said: ‘I just think it is ridiculous. I gave them to charity shops.’

Lu Llewellyn, 81, from Hartley, Kent, said: ‘I support mainly cancer charities, but I feel a little bit guilty when I get gifts from others. I do worry about what it all costs – especially at Christmas.’

Gerald Oppenheim, head of policy for the Fundraising Regulator, admitted that the issue was ‘a concern’.

He said: ‘The complaints could be anything from a biro that didn’t work to “I didn’t want these Christmas cards”.

‘The important thing for us is that charities learn from the feedback they received.’

SOMETHING is seriously wrong with many of this country’s charities, which sometimes seem to have lost their way.

Their latest fad, of showering unwanted gifts on donors to encourage contributions, is especially ridiculous. Who wants donations spent on such things? Our advice to charities is simple. Give up the politics and lobbying, spend as little as possible on administration, and do as much good as you can. Then the money will roll in.