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Fundraising Practices

We work hard to adhere to our strict standards of honesty and integrity here at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. That’s why we take extra care to make sure that our fundraising practices are above reproach from top to bottom.
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Award-Winning Fundraising

Everyone in our award-winning fundraising team is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the professional membership body for UK fundraising, which means you know you can trust both how we raise funds, and what we do with them.

Heart-to-Heart, Door-to-Door

We’ve worked with an external fundraising agency SMILE since May 2019, raising funds and sharing our story door-to-door. Door-to-door fundraising is a cost-effective way to raise money and, because we need a massive £2 million a year to run, every door we knock on directly helps a dog, cat, or the people that love them. 

We also set up stands in local venues. We’ve found that telling our story in person seems to hit home a little harder and usually means more donations, gifts, and other public support. We promise every single member of staff involved in public fundraising activity receives the appropriate training, both in terms of our message and speaking with the public. We’ve even updated how you can donate so it’s all contactless. Should you wish to donate in person, you are welcome to visit the Home – please see our opening hours here.

Where We're Working
How Does This Help the Home?

Since 2019, we recruited over 4,000 new regular donors through door-to-door fundraising. And, because we receive no regular government or statutory funding, this kind of support does wonders. This is a cost effective, low risk method of generating essential income. This means we can keep providing the dogs and cats we care for with the food, healthcare, training, bedding, and endless other bits and pieces they need every day.

All Above Board

We work with fundraising agency SMILE Ltd to carry out our door-to-door fundraising.

Staff will always be in branded Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home uniforms and wearing an ID badge. They’ll have official reading materials and a tablet which is used to sign people up for donations. You’ll never be asked for a one-off donation, a cash donation, or a cheque.

If you’re suspicious about the legitimacy of a fundraiser, call us on 0131 669 5331 (Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4.30pm) and we’ll be able to address your concerns. Or, alternatively, you can send your questions to fundraising@edch.org.uk.

How’s it Regulated?

SMILE’s team are members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. As well as being regulated by the Fundraising Regulator, they’re monitored by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Compliance, too.

We’re part of the Good Fundraising Guarantee, which means we guarantee our fundraising is legal, open, honest, and respectful at all times. To find out more please read our fundraising guarantee.

Any Questions?

If you’d like any more info, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the details below. Remember to include your name, address, and contact number so we can get in touch as soon as possible.

Contact our team on 0131 669 5331 or email fundraising@edch.org.uk.

Telephone Campaigns

Across the winter period (November to December 2024), we will recommence our work with an external telephone fundraising agency QTS as part of our Winter Appeal.  The agency will be calling approximately 3,330 of our supporters to thank them for the support they have previously shown and ask if they would like to donate on a regular basis by setting up a regular donation.  We will also be calling approximately 2,170 of our current regular donors to thank them for the support they have given so far. QTS will only call existing supporters who have given us consent to contact them by telephone. If you wish to update your preferences or speak to anyone about this, please contact our team on 0131 669 5331 or via email at fundraising@edch.org.uk
 

Supporter satisfaction is very important to us, and every call will be recorded for training and monitoring purposes to ensure you get the best possible experience with our telephone fundraisers. This will allow us to listen to any feedback and concerns you might have so we can to improve your future experience.   

Rest assured; your privacy is paramount to us. We adhere to strict data protection policies, and your personal information is handled with the utmost care. We will never use your call recordings for any purpose other than improving our fundraising practice.   

Why are we doing this?

As much as we would love to, we cannot make these calls ourselves with the small number of staff we have at the Home so choose to work with an external agency who have over 20 years’ experience in telephone fundraising. You can be rest assured that the team at QTS are highly professional and have undertaken training about the work of the Home. Like us, they know that our work wouldn’t be possible without your support.

How do I know they are genuine fundraisers?

All calls will come from the telephone number 07458122849. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a fundraiser, please call us on 0131 669 5331 and we will be able to verify this for you. You can also send your questions to fundraising@edch.org.uk.

The QTS team will only make calls between specified time frame: Monday to Friday: 10am to 8.30pm and Weekends: 10am to 5.30pm.

What can I do to stop receiving calls?

We understand and respect, that you might not wish to receive the calls from QTS telephone fundraisers. If that’s the case, please do let us know either by calling our team on 0131 669 5331 or contact us via email  fundraising@edch.org.uk.

Any questions?

If you have any other questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact our team on 0131 669 5331 or email fundraising@edch.org.uk. Please remember to include your name and contact telephone number so that we can call you back.   

We realise that sometimes we might get it wrong, and we truly value all feedback about our work. We believe that complaints are an opportunity to learn and improve and it is important that you tell us so we can deal with any situation as quickly as possible.   

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