Canvassers take the cause to the street - The Globe and Mail

Canvassers take the cause to the street - The Globe and Mail: Canadians do lots of things to avoid the reach of the street canvasser.

Emily Smits, who’s done the job for four years, recalls the businessman who sailed off the sidewalk into traffic, shimmying along a parked van to dodge her philanthropic pleas.

“I said, ‘I don’t bite. Have a nice day,’ ” Ms. Smits said.

Face Time: What’s in it for you?

Face Time: What’s in it for you?: "Face Time: What's in it for you?
Elisa Birnbaum By Elisa Birnbaum
October 25, 2010

Bookmark and Share

Walk the streets of any major Canadian city and you may start humming the My Fair Lady tune I've grown accustomed to your face. I'm talking about street canvassers, ubiquitous mainstays of our streets, particularly when the sun is out and our boots are still buried deep inside our closets. Chances are you've even walked by a canvasser today, with clipboard in hand, a smile on his face and a welcoming offer to chat.

Their ubiquity is easy to understand. 'There's such a strong need for fundraising today,' says Bryan McKinnon, explaining how the economic crisis and other challenges are upping the ante in terms of organizational stability and sustainability. Director of Public Outreach, a professional fundraising agency, the goal of the company — as a self-proclaimed social agent for change — is to raise as much money as possible for charities in the most cost efficient way, toward boosting their long-term return on investment."