Charity upgrades: the staff favourite campaign

Charity upgrades are the staff favourite. The donor already knows the charity, so the agent does not have to explain why the cause matters. They get to hear why it matters to that person.

The donor already knows the charity

This is not a cold explanation of an unfamiliar cause. The donor has already chosen it and supported it. The call begins with a relationship instead of starting from nothing.

You hear the donor journey

The lovely part of the call is hearing the person’s own story: why they first gave, what the charity means to their family, what they have seen change and why they stayed.

Instead of spending the whole call explaining the charity, the agent gets to listen to the donor explain the charity through their own life.

The result follows the relationship

No new bank details are normally needed. Around 40% of the donors we contact agree to an upgrade, with a usual increase of about €4.50 a month.

That strong result is not a reason to rush. The donor should enjoy the call whether the amount changes or not. That is why the staff enjoy making it too.

Some donations can do more without costing the donor more

About 10% of the work also reaches tax-efficient giving. Under Ireland's current scheme, an eligible charity can claim relief when an individual gives at least €250 in a year and authorises the claim. Revenue's example shows €250 becoming €362.32 for the approved body, subject to the scheme's rules and the tax the donor paid.

Current scheme details: Revenue's charitable-donations page.