How charities are utilising AI

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, artificial intelligence was a concept that only existed in science fiction. Then, in the 1950s, American psychologist Frank Rosenblatt invented the perceptron (a neural network that could learn by trial and error to simulate human thought and learning). This is widely considered to be the first iteration of modern-day artificial intelligence.

Since then, A.I. has become more and more advanced. From voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, to traffic prediction on Google Maps, it’s ingrained in much of the technology we use today.

AI also has many applications in business, from data analytics and search optimisation to market research and customer service.

With all the fuss around AI Chatbot app, ChatGPT, we thought we’d have a look at how three charities have used AI to streamline operations, solicit donations, and improve service delivery.

charity: water

In 2016, charity: Water launched a chatbot called ‘Walk with Yeshi’ to raise awareness of the water crisis in Ethiopia.

Integrated into Facebook Messenger, the chatbot incorporated artificial intelligence and a conversational, multimedia interface to enable people to virtually join Yeshi, a young Ethiopian woman, on her daily 2.5 hour walk to collect water. 

The experience played out in real-time, making use of media sharing, geolocation, and personal storytelling capabilities together with Stripe integration to raise funds.

On the journey, Yeshi chatted with her audience and sent emotive photos, GIFs, audio, and videos to bring her story to life.

A first-of-its-kind immersive journey built specifically for Facebook Messenger, this AI-driven experience provided the global community with a new way to experience and understand the hardships faced by millions of Ethiopian women.

NSPCC

In 2018, NSPCC became the first UK-based charity to use voice recognition technology through Amazon’s Alexa, to boost donations.

The children’s charity used goDonate Voice, an off-the-shelf donation template skill, developed specifically for charities.

Charity supporters could enable the skill through the Alexa app or via their voice by saying “Alexa, open NSPCC” to donate. The money was then automatically deducted from users’ Amazon accounts and sent to the charity via Amazon Pay. 

Other uses

Voice recognition technology is not only being used to solicit donations. Accessibility charity Whizz Kidz launched an accessibility guide for London via an Alexa skill, advising on routes across the city with step-free access for wheelchair users and people of limited mobility, while the British Red Cross first aid skill outlines what to do in emergency situations.

Parkinson’s UK

In 2020, Parkinson’s UK teamed up with Australian AI firm Dataro to find out how machine learning techniques could be applied to direct mail fundraising campaigns to better target donors and improve appeal returns.

To test its effectiveness, the charity tested its own September Appeal selections alongside Dataro’s list.

Parkinson’s UK used its existing propensity model to segment the database and finalise a list of supporters to receive the mailing, while Dataro used machine learning to analyse patterns in the charity’s transactions, engagement, and communications data, and generate predictive scores for each supporter, reflecting their estimated probability of giving.

At the end of the campaign, both lists were compared. The findings?

The AI-generated list:

• achieved a higher response rate (14%, compared to 8% for the traditional list selection)

• identified 411 gifts that otherwise would have been missed

• saw a potential 23% increase in net revenue

Holly Matthews, Direct Marketing Manager at Prostate Cancer UK, said of the experiment: “Our current data selection model is based on supporters’ gift behaviour, but we know this is not entirely inclusive and misses out valuable prospects. Ideally our data selection would be based on multiple areas of a supporter’s journey, but this takes time. Dataro’s AI model allowed us to test something new. It demonstrated what we had suspected; that valuable data had been missed.”

Is AI coming for your job?

The digital landscape is changing, and as these three examples show us, the way we fundraise is changing.

Does this mean AI will replace fundraisers? Nope. Sure, it can help you analyse data, raise money, and automate processes, but it’s no match for human intelligence or empathy. It can’t read, understand, or respond to human emotions, all of which are key to building meaningful donor relationships.

The most effective and responsible approach to AI is to view it as a tool to augment human intelligence rather than a replacement for it. By doing so, you can unlock AI's full potential while preserving the value of human input and creativity.

Looking for a tech-savvy fundraiser for your team? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email us at info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get the conversation started.

Four ways to encourage disability disclosure

Did you know that 9.5 million people across the UK live with a non-visible health condition? Or that 1 in 7 people are managing an invisible medical condition alongside their jobs?  

Hidden disabilities are more common than you might think. The chances are, you have a disabled person on your team without knowing it.

According to a study by healthcare provider Bupa, two in five (43%) of employees with invisible disabilities choose not to disclose their conditions to employers.

To improve self-identification rates, organisations need to make disability inclusion a priority.

Before we delve into how to do that, let’s go back to basics.

What is an invisible disability?

As the name suggests, invisible, or non-visible disabilities are health conditions that aren’t immediately obvious.

For example:

• mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder

• autism and Asperger’s syndrome

• visual impairments

• hearing loss

• sensory and processing difficulties

• cognitive impairment, including dementia, traumatic brain injury, or learning disabilities

• diabetes, chronic pain, respiratory conditions, incontinence

The impact of hidden disabilities in the workplace

Unfortunately, people can be quick to judge, misunderstand, and make assumptions if they can’t see evidence of someone’s condition.

For example, someone with chronic fatigue may be perceived as lazy if they need to take regular rests during the day. And someone with autism may communicate differently and be misunderstood by colleagues.

This prejudice is damaging, not just to applicants with disabilities, but to the productivity and cohesiveness of the wider team.

So, what can we do to encourage people to disclose?

Here are four tips:

1. Become a disability confident employer

Disability Confident is a free government initiative designed to encourage employers to recognise the talents that disabled people can bring to their teams.

The scheme benefits employers by:

• Increasing the number of high-quality candidates applying for roles

• Creating a workforce that reflects the diverse range of people it serves

• Improving staff morale, commitment, and loyalty by demonstrating that your organisation treats all employees fairly

  
  on the other hand, can be confident in the knowledge that:
  

• Their disability won’t put them at a disadvantage

• The workplace is inclusive

• They will be treated equally and fairly

However, becoming disability confident can’t be a tick-box exercise. Beyond signing up, you need to implement inclusive policies, take a firm line on ableism, and let it be known to people at the recruitment stage that you walk the walk when it comes to your disability confident status.

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme here. 

2. Provide company-wide disability awareness training

As we said earlier, a lack of awareness and understanding of invisible disabilities can result in prejudice and resentment – neither of which are conducive to a happy, healthy workforce.

Disability awareness training can help create a more understanding, open and supportive environment.

Enhance the UK  (a charity run by disabled people) helps organisations become more inclusive by using their lived experience to challenge stereotypes and provide

They use their lived experience to challenge perceptions and educate teams via fun interactive training sessions and workshops.

In addition to face to face and virtual disability awareness training they offer British Sign language workshops, access audits, and bespoke ‘lunch and learn’ sessions.

3.      Highlight invisible disabilities with signage

Disability awareness posters are a low-cost and effective way to remind people that ‘not all disabilities are visible’. They will also reinforce the fact you’re an inclusive employer. 

Make staff aware of the benefits of disclosure

Knowing about the Equality Act, understanding what constitutes discrimination, and being aware of reasonable adjustments can give employees the confidence to disclose. Here are some actions to consider taking:

• Provide training that covers the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments

• Promote the government-run Access to Work Scheme.

• Make sure you have a reasonable adjustment policy in place

So, it’s important to promote the definition of disability and show understanding. You can achieve this within disability awareness training sessions or induction materials.

4. Provide regular opportunities to disclose

For some employees, deciding to disclose a disability is a gradual process. It may start with checking the “yes” box on an anonymous survey, then disclosing it to a manager, and then to colleagues.

People often base their decision on the workplace culture and how they see other employees with disabilities being treated. 

Provide employees with regular opportunities to disclose. At each stage in the recruitment process and on a semi-regular basis during their employment, ask employees if they have any special requirements.

Some people may be uncomfortable disclosing face to face, so give them options. You could set up a dedicated ‘disclosure’ email address or include the option to disclose on staff surveys.

Final Word

Employees shouldn’t be afraid to disclose their disabilities – visible or non-visible. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make them feel safe to do so. Being proactive about disability inclusion and implementing the ideas above will go a long way to achieving it.

Willen Hospice launches ‘first of its kind’ gaming shop

As we said in a previous blog post, charity shops are on the rise. Not only are they growing in number, but sales are soaring.

According to the Charity Retail Association, there was a 15.1% growth in like-for-like charity store income in January-March 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

It’s no surprise charities large and small are scrambling to get a slice of retail action.

However, one organisation has turned the traditional charity shop concept on its head.

Willen House Hospice

To innovate its offer in the face of an increasingly challenging economic climate, Milton Keynes-based charity Willen Hospice has launched a charity shop with a difference.

Rather than selling second-hand designer clothes, knick-knacks, furniture, and books, the hospice opted for a ‘first of its kind’ retro gaming retail and experience store.

The Hangout

The ‘Hangout’ is a unique concept store that offers gamers of all ages a fun place to game, shop, and refuel.

Based in the Xscape leisure complex in Central Milton Keynes, the gamer’s paradise features ten arcade machines with 3,000+ retro games to choose from. It also has a wide range of retro consoles, hi-tech electronic darts, and a huge selection of board games to play.

In addition to the gaming experience, there’s an in-store shop selling a range of new and pre-loved games, toys, collectibles, and accessories. Gamers can also refuel with light refreshments at the cafe.

Visitors can book two-hour slots. The cost depends on the games they want to play. A ‘Board Gamer Pass’ costs £5. An ‘Electronic Gamer Pass’ is £10, and ‘the ‘Ultimate Gamer Pass’ is £15.

100% of the proceeds go to the hospice.

Comment

Leila Blaize-Smith, Willen Hospice Retail Project Lead, said of the store, “we are very proud to be pioneering new ways for our customers to support us. As well as raising vital funds for the Hospice, The Hangout will also double as a venue for us to support the families in our care with young children and teenagers, who are going through an incredibly difficult time.”

Opinion

With 11,200 charity shops around the UK, and new pop-ups, multi-stores, and charity supermarkets popping up everywhere, competition is fierce.

If you’re planning on joining the revolution, your charity shop needs to stand out.

Willen House has nailed it with the Hangout.  

In an article in Third Sector, Jonathan Mail, head of public affairs at the Charity Retail Association, said ‘there’s an increasing trend of charity shops moving towards bigger premises, where they can offer a variety of products and consumer experiences. They are becoming more diversified, offering something for everyone, from the more discounted type of product to things that target a more high-end consumer.”

The Hangout bucks this trend. Rather than trying to cater to everyone, it focuses on gamification, an extremely popular, but niche trend. And it prioritises the customer experience over a quick sale.

Evolution

A growing number of charities are recognising the need to innovate to attract shoppers into their stores. For example, The British Heart Foundation has started offering free CPR training events in some of its stores, while other charities are engaging with their local communities to host events such as community cookery classes or tasting evenings in their shop spaces.

And this is just the start. To ride the charity shop wave, charities will need to find novel ways to differentiate their retail stores and raise the profile of their causes.

Will it spell the end for the traditional charity shop? Time will tell.

Looking for a fundraiser to focus on retail fundraising? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out how.

Undercover reporter reveals unethical door-to-door fundraising practices

Two major UK charities have launched investigations after an undercover reporter from WalesOnline released footage of face-to-face fundraisers breaking the Code of Fundraising Practice.

The Welsh newspaper revealed that workers at direct sales firm Vantage and Solution Cardiff employed pressure selling tactics to solicit donations from elderly people for SOS Children’s Villages UK and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).

Reporter Conor Gogarty, who conducted the investigation, undertook training with the agency. During the session, he was told to “trick” people “into saying yes” and “expand greed” in them but he didn’t receive any training on fundraising regulations or identifying vulnerable individuals.

He was then taken out on door-to-door calls with other fundraisers, during which he recorded secret footage of conversations with people on their doorsteps. 

On the walkabout, Gogarty said he “witnessed a series of lies told on doorsteps to get elderly people to sign up to direct debits to charities”. He went on to say that “one pensioner had to say no four times before the sales rep stopped persisting. There was also an attempt to sign up a woman who was clearly confused. When the sales rep asked her if she banked in the UK, she answered, 'I'm 70-odd.’ Despite her confusion, the sales rep persisted - only walking away when the lady failed to give him a phone number.”

Response

Sarah Bradford, director of communications and brand at SOS Children's Villages UK, said of the footage, “this kind of behaviour, this working culture and these types of practices absolutely do not align with our values or the way we work. We demand extremely high standards from the agencies we work with to fundraise and are deeply concerned to hear of any experience where our required safeguards and quality controls are not being met.”

Bradford went on to say that, since seeing Gogarty’s footage, the charity has been in touch with the relevant regulatory bodies and “begun a thorough investigation into how this could have occurred”.

This includes checking all the paperwork, processes, training records and materials for fundraisers working on the campaign.

Due diligence

It remains to be seen how the reputation of the two charities will fare following the release of the footage. After all, unethical fundraising practices don’t make for great PR.

The footage also highlights the importance of due diligence.

Working with a fundraising agency can bring many benefits. They employ skilled and experienced fundraisers who are equipped to provide advice and expertise on how to carry out a great fundraising campaign.

But there are responsibilities that come with working with agencies.

Charities must undertake due diligence to ensure all fundraising carried out in their name is compliant and ethical.

Want to know more? The following resources will tell you everything you need to know.

•  Read The Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice section on Working with Third Parties

• Review the rules around Solicitation Statements

• Take a look at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s guidance on working with third parties.

Final Word

Need an eagle-eyed fundraiser to manage your fundraising compliance? We can help. Call us on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get the conversation started.

Team Talks: Joanna’s cold water swimming

Fundraising recruitment is a ‘people’ business. So, we thought it was about time you got to know the people behind Bamboo.

In our ‘Team Talks’ series, we’ll be grilling each member of the team on their hobbies, passions, and anything else we can think of.

First up is Joanna, talking about her passion for cold-water swimming.

What is cold water swimming?

Basically, it’s any form of outdoor swimming.

I do sea swimming regularly, but I’ve also tried river and lagoon swimming.

How long have you been doing it?             

I started doing it during the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, I swam every day in a private pool.

Swimming is my exercise of choice as its gentle on my joints and good for my various ailments. (Joanna has Congenital talipes equinovarus, also known as club foot. And Femoroacetabular impingement).  

Then lockdown happened, and it all stopped.

Everyone else swapped their usual exercise for long walks, but I couldn’t do that as my hips were painful, and I kept falling over.

Not being able to swim really got me down, so I went to see a doctor.

The first one I spoke to prescribed antidepressants. I didn’t want to take them, but as I was so low, I gave them a go. But they didn't sit well with me. So, I called the GP again and spoke to a different doctor.

I’ll never forget our conversation. I was sitting in my car, crying. I told her I was struggling physically and mentally as I couldn’t swim.

She asked if I was comfortable swimming in the sea. I said I was, but I hadn’t done it for years as I lived in London and had a busy job.

She suggested I look into cold water swimming. She said there were groups all over the country, and if it appealed, she would write a letter that would allow me to do it without getting fined.

After the call, I jumped on Facebook, found the Blue Tits, and before I knew it, I was venturing out for my first swim, armed with my bathers, bobble hat, and my precious GP letter.

How was your first session?

I was nervous. As the group had been doing it for some time, I thought they might be cliquey. But they welcomed me in and made me feel comfortable, instantly.

As for the swim, it was amazing. Every bit of my body felt worked, including the bits I didn’t expect to feel, like my forearms.

But it wasn’t just good for my body. The social side of it was great for my mental health.

Do you still go?

Yes. I try and go twice a week. I’ve made some amazing friendships from it. We go for coffees, breakfasts, and celebrate each other’s birthdays. It’s lovely.

The group has also helped build my confidence. Off the back of it, I did the Tenby Boxing Day swim in a Christmas tree onesie last year

Do you swim all year round?

Yes. I remember the temperature was -2° on one of my swims in February. There was frost on the sand. It was warmer in the sea!

How does the Blue Tits work?

The Blue Tits is the overarching group, then there are local groups across the country.

Each group has a Facebook page, and everything is organised through them.

It’s very informal. You don’t have to pay to do it.

How many are in your group?

There are seven or eight regulars that go pretty much every day. They can afford to do it as most of them are retired.

Is it safe to say you’d recommend cold water swimming to burnt out fundraisers?

Yes! For me, it's a form of physical and mental therapy. It allows me to switch off from everything else going on in my life.

I knew anti-depressants weren’t what I needed!

And I can’t rave enough about the Blue Tits. They’re not regimental like some cold-water swimming groups. They’re relaxed, there are no expectations, and you don’t have to be a skilled swimmer to join.

We have a saying. ‘Never leave you flock’. Basically, you swim as a group and look out for each other. If you start struggling, or feeling unwell, someone will be on hand to help.

If you want to get out after five minutes, that’s fine too, as we respect each other’s limitations.

Final Word

Joanna clearly gets a lot from cold water swimming. Why not give it a go and start reaping the rewards yourself?

Want to find out more about the Blue Tits? Take the plunge and check out their website.