An hour ago I was stopped outside Heals on the King’s Road by a guy collecting for the Painted Children Charity.
“Sorry,” I said, “I’ve already given. You lot are everywhere.”
This is true – they’ve been doing an amazing job. He was not put off, though, and in what sounded to me a heavy Slavonic accent said, “Ah, but you must give. This is your last chance.”
Being insatiably curious, I asked, “Where are you from?”
“Guess,” he replied.
“I looked at his name tag. “Armenia,” I said.
“No,” he responded. “If you cannot guess you must give £10 donation. This is last chance of year, last chance of decade. You should give.”
I looked again at his name. “Georgia,” I said.
“You are right,” he replied.
I said, “Never mind, I’ll give you some money anyhow.”
“Not good English,” he said, “but good at fundraising.”
Giorgi – that was his name – knows that any reason, even an illogical one, is better than no reason if you want people to cough up. He understands the power of likeable persistence, and knows that people like to play games.
He knows a lot more than many people who get paid good money for charity fundraising
A good man.
I never trust anyone standing on a street now days. They are nearly always on commission. I knew someone who was collecting for shelter the homeless charity. They got £20 if they got someone to sign up for just £8 a month direct debt. If they got no sign ups meant they got no wages so they soon come up with ways to get the conversion higher.
I disagree with that actually. If people didn't et paid, they wouldn't collect. If they didn't collect the charity would get no money. Having worked for God knows how many charities over the years, I long ago realised that there aren't nearly enough volunteers – simple as that.
I don't see what's wrong with that. If they're expected to work for nothing how do they earn anything to feed themselves and their families?
And, if they don't do fundraising and get a paid job, who does raise funds for the needy?
Would you leave your paid work and do fund raising for nothing?