The Institute of Fundraising has launched a campaign to promote the critical role that volunteer fundraisers play within the sector, complaining that existing volunteering initiatives ignore their importance.

Drawing on the Department of Health’s consultation Towards a Strategy to Support Volunteering in Health and Social Care as an example, the Institute is unhappy that government-led initiatives aimed at increasing output by volunteers fail to acknowledge the importance of volunteer fundraising activity.

It wants charities that are supported by volunteer fundraisers to complete a survey detailing their experiences. The findings will be used to provide the evidence base of the Institute’s submission to the Department of Health’s consultation.

“Research shows that two-thirds of volunteers are engaged in raising and handling money,” said Megan Pacey, director of policy and campaigns at the Institute. “They raise millions of pounds for good causes each year. Yet there is a still a distinct lack of recognition across the board of fundraising as a valid and valuable volunteer activity – and next to no support in volunteer initiatives to nurture and grow volunteer fundraising.”

A Department of Health spokesperson responded: “Whilst not identified specifically within the consultation document, the Department does acknowledge the important role that volunteer fundraisers play in a range of statutory and non-statutory settings within the health and social care system.”

To contribute to the Institute’s consultation response, visit www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/volunteering. The survey is open until Friday 12 September.

Article published on the Professional Fundraising website (6 August 2008): Click Here