By Cassandra Baptista
“Do you want to save the children?” Tommy asks in his Boston accent. The sky is grey on this rainy afternoon on Boylston Street, but the 20-something canvasser shields himself from the weather by wearing a Save the Children’s vest and a smile.
A lanky Emerson College student passes with spiked hair and a green striped shirt. As though rejecting food from a street vendor, he answers mechanically, “No, I’m good.”
Tommy waits for the student to pass before mumbling, “This is like selling ice to an Eskimo.”
It is 4 p.m., and he has been on the streets of Boston for six hours. Over the course of the day, four people have donated money. Tommy explains that because it is only his fifth day of canvassing, he is not sure whether the low turnout is typical of a regular day on the job. But he has reason to be concerned.
According to a new survey by GuideStar, a public charity database that collects and publicizes information about nonprofit organizations, more than one-third of American charities reported having collected less money so far this year than last.
For its 2006 fiscal year, Save the Children acquired roughly $200 million through direct public donations. However, while the organization’s projection still seems comparable to last year, Jill Stetson, Save the Children’s marketing associate, thinks that the current financial crisis will play a significant role in canvas fundraising this holiday season.
“Canvassing makes up to 50% of our acquisition yearly,” Stetson says, “but I think overall, charitable giving will see a decline this year.”
Back on Boylston Street, Tommy positions himself under scaffolding to shield himself from the rain. As he combs through his sopping brown hair with his hands, he admits that he is still unsure what the best approach is to canvassing. A parade of pink, plaid, and polka dot umbrellas draws near, and Tommy prepares himself. He smiles, holding his clipboard to his chest, but the group quickens its pace.
Tommy places his hands on his chest dramatically and pleads, “You’re breaking my heart.” The sound of traffic and conversation drown him out.
But Tommy reenergizes with each rejection. As a new group of people passes, he tries something different.
“Miss with the purple boots,” Tommy says rhythmically, as though he’s about to freestyle rap. “You dropped something—Nah, I’m just kidding. Wanna save the children?”
A girl walks by with her skinny jeans tucked into her rain boots. “I don’t have money to save myself man,” she says.
Tommy nods.
The country’s current economic state has prompted many organizations to change their fundraising strategies. The Salvation Army started putting its donation kettles out early this year in various cities, such as in Boston, where the recognizable red kettles were placed outside two weeks sooner than in past years.
Some people are also worried about what this fiscal decrease now will mean for these foundations in the future. According to an October article published by the Foundation Center, a database that provides grant and nonprofit information, “if the market fails to rebound from its current low or sinks further, the asset losses may be so pronounced and touch so many foundations that an overall decrease in funding becomes inevitable.”
But outside in the rain, Tommy stands undefeated despite the low turnout for the day. He tucks his zippered bag containing roughly $40 between his clipboard and information booklet.
“People don’t have the money for it,” Tommy shrugs, “even though they have their coffees, Versace sunglasses and Ugg boots. Nature is selfish. I mean, I’m doing this for money.”
Tommy says he is saving his money to continue to go to aviation school. His canvassing job pays $8 dollars an hour, which is minimum wage in Massachusetts. He admits he’s not sure how much longer he’ll be canvassing, especially after a day like today. For the past hour, Tommy’s been standing on the same street. No one has stopped.
The student with the striped shirt and spiked hair passes by again. Tommy recognizes him and, not missing a beat, asks, “Wanna change your mind now? Save the Children?”
The young man doesn’t look in Tommy’s direction, and replies with a curt, “No.”
Tommy checks his watch and notices that the sidewalk has emptied. He decides to go see how his colleagues are doing on a nearby street.
“I’m gonna keep at it,” he says, and he walks umbrella-less out into the spitting rain.
A lanky Emerson College student passes with spiked hair and a green striped shirt. As though rejecting food from a street vendor, he answers mechanically, “No, I’m good.”
Tommy waits for the student to pass before mumbling, “This is like selling ice to an Eskimo.”
It is 4 p.m., and he has been on the streets of Boston for six hours. Over the course of the day, four people have donated money. Tommy explains that because it is only his fifth day of canvassing, he is not sure whether the low turnout is typical of a regular day on the job. But he has reason to be concerned.
According to a new survey by GuideStar, a public charity database that collects and publicizes information about nonprofit organizations, more than one-third of American charities reported having collected less money so far this year than last.
For its 2006 fiscal year, Save the Children acquired roughly $200 million through direct public donations. However, while the organization’s projection still seems comparable to last year, Jill Stetson, Save the Children’s marketing associate, thinks that the current financial crisis will play a significant role in canvas fundraising this holiday season.
“Canvassing makes up to 50% of our acquisition yearly,” Stetson says, “but I think overall, charitable giving will see a decline this year.”
Back on Boylston Street, Tommy positions himself under scaffolding to shield himself from the rain. As he combs through his sopping brown hair with his hands, he admits that he is still unsure what the best approach is to canvassing. A parade of pink, plaid, and polka dot umbrellas draws near, and Tommy prepares himself. He smiles, holding his clipboard to his chest, but the group quickens its pace.
Tommy places his hands on his chest dramatically and pleads, “You’re breaking my heart.” The sound of traffic and conversation drown him out.
But Tommy reenergizes with each rejection. As a new group of people passes, he tries something different.
“Miss with the purple boots,” Tommy says rhythmically, as though he’s about to freestyle rap. “You dropped something—Nah, I’m just kidding. Wanna save the children?”
A girl walks by with her skinny jeans tucked into her rain boots. “I don’t have money to save myself man,” she says.
Tommy nods.
The country’s current economic state has prompted many organizations to change their fundraising strategies. The Salvation Army started putting its donation kettles out early this year in various cities, such as in Boston, where the recognizable red kettles were placed outside two weeks sooner than in past years.
Some people are also worried about what this fiscal decrease now will mean for these foundations in the future. According to an October article published by the Foundation Center, a database that provides grant and nonprofit information, “if the market fails to rebound from its current low or sinks further, the asset losses may be so pronounced and touch so many foundations that an overall decrease in funding becomes inevitable.”
But outside in the rain, Tommy stands undefeated despite the low turnout for the day. He tucks his zippered bag containing roughly $40 between his clipboard and information booklet.
“People don’t have the money for it,” Tommy shrugs, “even though they have their coffees, Versace sunglasses and Ugg boots. Nature is selfish. I mean, I’m doing this for money.”
Tommy says he is saving his money to continue to go to aviation school. His canvassing job pays $8 dollars an hour, which is minimum wage in Massachusetts. He admits he’s not sure how much longer he’ll be canvassing, especially after a day like today. For the past hour, Tommy’s been standing on the same street. No one has stopped.
The student with the striped shirt and spiked hair passes by again. Tommy recognizes him and, not missing a beat, asks, “Wanna change your mind now? Save the Children?”
The young man doesn’t look in Tommy’s direction, and replies with a curt, “No.”
Tommy checks his watch and notices that the sidewalk has emptied. He decides to go see how his colleagues are doing on a nearby street.
“I’m gonna keep at it,” he says, and he walks umbrella-less out into the spitting rain.
