Sallies keep fundraising costs to a minimum

Sallies keep fundraising costs to a minimum

As the furore grows over how much money fundraising companies extract from charities, The Salvation Army says the cost of its fundraising activities is 19 cents for every dollar collected.

Yesterday, CEO of Fundraising Institute of New Zealand James Austin said acceptable payments to companies fundraising on charities’ behalf should be less than 50 cents for every dollar raised. Some charities have said they have paid more than 90 cents.

Salvation Army Public Relations Secretary Major Robbie Ross says the Army has honed its fundraising skills over decades and relies on its network of volunteers and a handful of staff to manage and run its street appeals and phone and web-based donations.

“This is essential, particularly when we’re in the teeth of a recession, if we want do our utmost for the growing number of families in material hardship,” Major Ross says.

“With the New Zealand public contributing $859 million a year to charities, we owe it to those people to spend their money in ways that are most effective,” he says.

The more than 80 cents in every dollar collected is available for Salvation Army work such as food banks, emergency accommodation, budget advice and social work.

ENDS

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