A Practical Guide to Running a Successful Street Appeal

Street appeals remain one of the most effective ways for charities to raise funds and build community awareness. But running one well requires careful planning, the right tools, and attention to the volunteer experience. Here's everything we've learned from supporting thousands of volunteers across New Zealand.

1Planning Your Street Appeal

Set clear goals

Before anything else, define what success looks like. How much do you aim to raise? How many volunteers do you need? What locations will you cover? Having concrete targets helps you measure success and identify gaps early.

Choose your locations wisely

High foot traffic doesn't always mean high donations. Consider the demographic of each area, competition from other charities, and whether your cause resonates locally. Shopping centres, train stations, and busy intersections typically perform well.

Build your timeline

Start planning at least 8-12 weeks before your appeal date—more is better. This gives you time to secure permits, recruit volunteers, and handle the inevitable last-minute challenges. Create a detailed timeline with milestones and owners for each task.

Prepare your equipment

Create a checklist of everything you'll need: collection buckets or tins, branded vests or t-shirts, signage, ID badges, float for giving change, receipt books, and any promotional materials. Order early—branded items often have long lead times.

2Recruiting Volunteers

Start with your existing network

Past volunteers, supporters, and beneficiaries are your best recruitment pool. They already understand your cause and are more likely to commit. Reach out personally where possible—a phone call converts better than an email.

Make signing up frictionless

Every extra step in your registration process loses volunteers. Use a modern platform that allows quick sign-up, easy shift selection, and doesn't require passwords. Mobile-friendly is essential—most people will sign up from their phones.

Offer flexible shifts

Not everyone can commit to a full day. Offer 2-3 hour shifts to accommodate different schedules. You'll recruit more volunteers and reduce fatigue-related dropoffs.

3Managing Logistics

Appoint area coordinators

You can't be everywhere. Recruit trusted volunteers to manage specific regions or clusters of locations. Give them the tools and authority to make local decisions and handle issues as they arise.

Prepare for no-shows

Expect 10-20% of registered volunteers to not show up. Over-recruit slightly, have a standby list, and ensure area coordinators can shuffle people between locations if needed.

Plan your communications

Volunteers need clear information: where to go, what to bring, who to contact if they're running late. Send reminders 1 week out, 1 day out, and the morning of. Have a system for last-minute updates if weather or circumstances change.

4On the Day

Brief your volunteers

Every volunteer should know their collection point, the key messages about your cause, how to handle donations, and who to contact for help. A 10-minute briefing at shift start makes a big difference.

Monitor in real-time

Track which locations are staffed, which have gaps, and how things are going. Modern platforms give you a live dashboard so you can spot problems and reallocate resources quickly.

Support your people

Check in with volunteers throughout the day. Bring water and snacks to collection points. Recognise their efforts publicly. Happy volunteers stay longer and come back next year.

5After the Appeal

Thank your volunteers immediately

Send a thank you message within 24 hours. Include early results if you have them—volunteers love knowing they made a difference. Personal touches matter.

Gather feedback

What worked? What didn't? Ask volunteers and coordinators for honest feedback while the experience is fresh. This information is gold for improving next year's appeal.

Analyse your data

Which locations performed best? What was your volunteer show-up rate? Where were the gaps? Use data to make smarter decisions next time.