What are delivery-only collections?
Delivery-only collections are a simple, contact-free way to collect donations from your community without the need to knock and collect!
Our specially designed delivery-only envelopes provide space to stamp, print, label or write on your envelopes to tell supporters where to drop their donation.
Read on for more information and resources to organise your own envelope drop-off.
Resources
Here’s a low down on the resources available to support your envelope delivery, all the resources listed are available at caweek.org/resources.
- Delivery-only envelope - Just like our classic giving envelope but containing a blank space so you can add a drop off point. Supporters can utilise this space as they desire by writing on an address, stamping, or labelling the envelope.
- Collector badge - All volunteers should wear our specially designed collector badge when delivering envelopes. The badge will give you legitimacy and visibility and is a legal requirement to identify you as a Christian Aid volunteer when you are delivering or collecting envelopes.
- Delivery-only slips - A set of 4 editable slips which can be personalised with information on how to give. Our slips have been improved to provide space to include a QR code and giving URL. Use the editable space on the slip to add details of a drop off point, local event or service. Delivery-only slips are really useful in no cold calling zones as you don’t need to knock and collect. Simply print and attach to your envelopes.
- Template Label – add your own message to our template label then print and stick to your envelope. Your label could include a QR code or link to an online giving page. You could use the space to invite people to a local event or add details of a drop off point.
Choosing a drop off point
Many collectors cover their local streets, which means their house works well as a convenient drop-off point for envelopes.
If you approach a business like the post office or a local shop, you must make sure they are reputable businesses. Our guide below has a handy template letter for you to use to ask a local business to become a collection point. For security reasons returned envelopes should be kept in a sealed bucket in view of staff at all times. It’s a good idea to use a cable-tie to make sure the bucket remains closed or use a security chain which can be requested from Christian Aid here.
You will need written permission from the site owner where your collection box will be placed.
Recruiting collectors
Delivery-only collections mean a wider range of people can run a collection. Under-16s can deliver the envelopes, so getting a local uniform group involved can be a really effective way of increasing your delivery area.
With improved flexibility on who can deliver, we’ve seen many groups and individuals use the opportunity to cover greater areas than they had before. This extended reach then boosted the donations that were received.
Other promotion
Delivering envelopes is a great opportunity to get the word out about other Christian Aid Week activities you have planned. If you’re holding an event or Christian Aid Week service, why not deliver invites alongside your envelopes?
You could use your envelope delivery to invite the local community to your events such as a coffee morning or church fete by delivering your own flyer or using our handy no reply slips.
Guide to running your collection
Here’s our guide to running your collection with a helpful case study and sample letter.
Youth delivery only
A delivery-only collection provides a great opportunity to cover a wider area than usual helping to boost potential income. Many of our supporters have had success engaging with young people through youth or uniformed groups to help with the delivery of envelopes and tell young people more about Christian Aid’s work.
Read on for our top tips for engaging young people and boosting your Christian Aid Week fundraising
Find groups near you
As a starting point see what youth groups are available near you, you may have a group in your church or a neighbouring church or you can find out what’s available near you online.
Once you have made contact with a group, we suggest the following things. Ask the leader if you can go along and tell them a bit more about Christian Aids work. Each year we have a Christian Aid Week film and resources such as an all age talk to help young people connect with our work and see what impact they can make. You can help the children make parallels between their lives and the people Christian Aid supports and the next step of this journey is volunteering their time to deliver envelopes.
Key points
- Children should be supervised so collecting as a group with group leaders and some willing adults is a must.
- We recommend delivery takes place before it gets dark and always before 9pm.
- Publicise what you are doing. Do you have a local magazine, local Facebook group or community notice board? People love to see young people getting involved in a good cause and are likely to give if they know children have been involved in the delivery. You can also use these sorts of tools to advertise your drop off point if applicable. Our printable no-reply slips have an editable section, so you can tell supporters where to return their envelopes or about any local events they might want to join.
Make it fun
- Hold a competition to see which child can deliver the most envelopes and give out prizes.
- Get the group together afterwards for pizza or games to celebrate their volunteering.
- Don’t forget to take pictures to share with the group.
- Make sure you feedback and celebrate how much was raised.
Guide to running your collection
Here’s our guide to running your collection with a helpful case study and sample letter.