The purpose of fulfilment services for charities is to provide efficient services that are bespoke, responsive and flexible, enabling an organisation to reduce overheads and increase the profitability of charities. There has been an increase in e-commerce activities in the charity sector, prompting further through for the future of fundraising and in the charity industry. Charity fulfilment companies should bear these changes in mind to ensure the service remains relevant and of value.
A clear scope of the charity services should be outlined from the start, with the charity fulfilment company provider must outline the level of service they can deliver. Charities need to know that their expectations can be met. Are the services set in stone or are you willing to build services that are ideal for charities such as 24 hour charity call centre services. The relationship between charity and provider must be transparent and an honest working relationship should be established.
A great fulfilment service is built on planning ahead to produce realistic forecasts. This is difficult in the current economic conditions however this is a very important part of the fulfilment proccess. There is a two way relationship here in which services providers should challenge the forecasts given by the charity is necessary. If the numbers do not seem accurate, this must be flagged up as it can have a serious impact on (a) the success of the campaign (b) the profitability of the charity (c) your reputation as a charity management specialist.
In the case that the client doesn’t have forecasts produces, companies should by showing their experience as charity fulfilment specialists by working alongside the charity to evaluate and create a successful marketing campaign.
It is not uncommon for forecasting to be thrown off by unexpected fluctuations in demand as result of good pr or the launch of new products, charity services or endorsements. Fulfilment companies need to stay ahead of this by having the experience, industry knowledge and depth of resources to cope. It is this breadth and depth of knowledge that differentiates between charity fulfilment companies who are worth their salt.