Outsourcing telephone fundraising? What to know before you sign
Overview
What can a fundraising call centre do for your cause?
Acquisition: turning one-off donors, event participants or leads into regular givers.
Reactivation: bringing lapsed donors back.
Upgrades: asking regular donors to increase their gift.
Retention: saving donors who want to cancel or whose payment failed.
Thank-you calls: building loyalty without an ask.
Fundraising isn't general telemarketing. Agents need to understand and believe in your cause, and have empathetic conversations that reflect your values.
Compliance
Who is responsible for fundraising compliance?
Charities may have some exemptions from calling rules in some markets, but the details vary by country and by the relationship with the person called. Your provider must understand them, and you remain responsible for what is said in your name, so approve every script.
Pricing guide
How much does a fundraising call centre cost?
Most providers charge per hour; some offer per-gift or commission models. Model the total campaign cost, including data, payments and set-up. These are ACXPA's indicative benchmarks for a fully outsourced agent, including salary, management and technology. They're set in Australian dollars and converted to your currency.
Location
Per hour
Best for
Australia
A$48 – A$70
Complex, consultative, regulated or high-value campaigns
New Zealand
A$35 – A$60
Native English and high service standards
Philippines
A$8 – A$18
High-volume B2C outbound and appointment setting
South Africa
A$15 – A$25
Strong English and voice quality at a significant saving
Indicative ranges in Australian dollars.
ACXPA benchmarks the locations above today. Other popular locations, such as India, Mexico, Colombia and Jamaica, aren't benchmarked yet, so compare quotes directly.
How to choose
How do you choose a fundraising call centre?
Ask for similar causes
Results from campaigns like yours.
Check how agents learn your cause
Briefings, visits and stories, not just a script.
Review data handling
Screening, consent records and secure payment processing.
Agree the reporting
Contact rates, conversion, average gift and retention by segment.
Look at donor quality
Track how long new donors keep giving, not just how many sign up.
FAQs
Telephone fundraising FAQs
What is telephone fundraising?
Calling supporters to recruit, reactivate, upgrade or retain donors, usually for regular giving, on behalf of a charity or not-for-profit.
Are charities exempt from do-not-call rules?
In some markets, partly, depending on who is called and why. The rules vary, so check them for each market and make sure your provider manages them.
How are suppliers ordered on this page?
Suppliers with a paid listing appear first, followed by everyone else. Our page on how suppliers are ordered explains the detail.
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