The FRBS' annual report suggests charities are increasingly reluctant to push junk mail through people's doors. In 2009, 1,085 FRSB members sent over 200 million pieces of addressed junk mail, while last year 1,138 members were responsible for producing 146 million pieces of addressed junk mail. Unaddressed junk mail volumes have also decreased; from 131 million in 2009 to 111 million in 2010.

Complaints

Mail volumes may have gone down, complaints about junk mail have gone up. Unsolicited mail generated the highest number of complaints: of the 18,442 complaints that were lodged against members of the self-regulatory body for charity fundraising more than half (9,708) were about 'direct mail'.

Of the complaints received about addressed junk mail most were about the frequency of appeals and 'poor data' - that is, mailings addressed to people who have moved house or deceased. The 'tone of appeals' was a third major area of complaints, accounting for 20% of complaints.

In its annual report the chairman of the FRSB, Colin Lloyd, played down the increase in the number of complaints, stating it remains an extremely low proportion of fundraising activity. However, Mr Lloyd acknowledged the need for charities to ensure that they are working with good and current data when reaching out to donors and potential supporters.

Bogus clothing collections

The FRSB's report identifies 'bogus clothing collections' as a particularly problematic area. Although such collections are not organised by members of the FRSB the organisation is aiming to prevent bogus collections by educating the public about the risk to charity fundraising." The FSBR has included clothing collections in its 'best practice' guidelines and will hold a conference on the issue later this year.

Links

• Fundraising Standards Board (frsb.org.uk)
• Fundraising Standards Board - Annual Report 2010/11 (PDF, frsb.org.uk)