No fences left to paint: A charity Easter dilemma

It's a bit like fight club. If you're in the sector you'll know exactly what I mean if I say "We've no more fences to paint." If you're not, you might be wondering where this is going, so I'm just going to dive in!

The reference commonly refers to what a company wants to be seen to be doing for charity, versus what actually needs to be done. Whether this is allowing corporate volunteers to 'paint a fence' even though it's just been done, or politely thanking them for unwanted gifts (like you might do with your Great-Aunt Ida at Christmas when she sends that lovely, awful mohair vest), it's something that fundraisers often don't like to confront for fear of offending or burning bridges.

You see, there are certain times of the year when the traditional role of charity fundraiser seeking a relationship with a business is flipped on it's head. On the whole, at Easter and Christmas a whole range of companies step out of the woodwork to offer 'gifts in kind' in abundence-which is a lovely gesture right? Well, the problem with this, is that whilst it generally comes from a good place and presents a nice social media picture, the gifts the business wants to give aren't actually needed.

I KNOW, it sounds ungrateful and I hate to break it to you- but unless you're responding to a direct appeal from the charity or are headed to your local food bank, your carefully gathered Easter Eggs or selection boxes are probably not going to bring the joy you hoped for!

Poorly kids in hospital or older people in care homes may not actually be able to eat those sweets, they might be tube or peg-fed, have a stoma or adhere to strict dietary requirements. Those that are able to eat choccie, generally have family that want to spoil them and provisions will have been made for the very unusual cases where a family can't muster up the cash for an egg or selection box. Whilst the recipients may be grateful for the thought, it's a commonly thought thought- if you take my meaning. Pretty much everyone is doing the same thing, including families and friends of the 'cause', individual supporters, past beneficiaries etc, all leaving a mountain of chocolate in their wake (slowly turning that chalky white colour or being thrown at staff, delivery people or any passers by who will take them).

So, this year, if your company wants to help out a charity or cause in a more meaningful, impactful way, why not get in touch and simply ask what's needed? The money you would have spent on chocolate could pay for some boredom busting craft materials or fund a different treat at a less abundant time of the year.

You know you're sick of painting fences really, aren't you?

NB// Thoughts expressed in this article are entirely ravings of my own and not necessarily representative of any organisation I work for.