If you have questions regarding your donation to UNICEF UK please either email supportercare@unicef.org.uk or phone 0844 801 2414. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding donations:
How do I change my address and bank details?
Please let us know as soon as you move, or if your bank details change for any reason. When doing this, it is not advisable to email any bank details as we cannot guarantee security. Please call our Donations Team on 0844 801 2414 – they will be happy to amend your donations details.
How do I amend the amount of my regular donation?
If you wish to amend your regular donation amount, please let us by telephoning our Donations Team on 0844 801 2414. We will need to know the new amount you would like to give and the month you would like us to start collecting your donation with the new amount.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a simple scheme that allows charities to recover the tax already paid on donations made in the last four years at no extra cost to you. By reclaiming tax from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Gift Aid is a great way for you to help UNICEF UK maximise the value of its donations. This means that every £1 you donate could be worth an extra 25 pence to us.
If you need more information online please visit our Gift Aid section or telephoning our Donations Team on 0844 801 2414.
Can I donate to a specific project/country?
While we are very grateful for any donations we receive, we prefer that funds are directed towards a current campaign, an emergency appeal or towards our general Children’s Emergency Fund. This enables us to send money to where it is needed the most by children and to keep administration costs low.
If you would like to fundraise for a specific issue or country we can, of course, usually accommodate this. Please call our Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 who will happily discuss the options available to you.
How do I know that my money won't end up in the wrong hands?
UNICEF has a tested system of checks and balances to ensure proper use of funds, including regular internal and external audits. Spending reports are also published regularly for donors and the public. Transparency measures also include regular field visits by staff to monitor spending and progress and payments in instalments to allow for assessments of prior spending.
Do you accept gifts in kind?
UNICEF has a very strict policy regarding the donation of gifts in kind due to the many implications that arise. For specific guidelines please contact our Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414.
Can I donate specific items like blankets/clothes?
No. UNICEF has its own supply division responsible for sourcing and sending these items to the field in the quickest, most efficient and cost effective way.
We appreciate your support and the best way you can support UNICEF’s work worldwide is by donating, fundraising and campaigning. Please visit the ‘How you can help’ page on our website for further information.
How do I know a fundraiser is genuinely raising funds for UNICEF?
If you have been approached by person claiming to raise funds for UNICEF and you believe they might not be a genuine fundraiser, please contact the UNICEF Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 or email helpdesk@unicef.org.uk with information on who approached you, how and when.
UNICEF UK does employ fundraisers. They should all be knowledgeable about UNICEF and have either a professional contract with UNICEF or have a letter of authority or badge identifying them as volunteer fundraisers.
Should UNICEF fundraisers ask for my bank details?
Our face-to-face fundraisers on the street will have a UNICEF-branded ID badge with the name and number of the fundraiser; they have information on the company that employs them and UNICEF contact details on them. They will be wearing a UNICEF T-shirt and/or jacket. They only collect direct debit information and will never ask for cash. The UNICEF Helpdesk has a list of names of the fundraisers and the areas they are operating in.
Contact the Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 or at helpdesk@unicef.org.uk if you would like to confirm anyone’s identity.
Who might ask for cash donations for UNICEF?
Many of our volunteer fundraisers organise collections on streets or in private venues. They will be collecting cash and will never ask for bank details. They should have either a UNICEF letter of authority or a UNICEF badge; they will be knowledgeable about UNICEF and its work and be able explain how they are linked to UNICEF.
If they have collection cans or buckets these are cyan or possibly dark blue and these should have a sticker or label that clearly displays the UNICEF logo and the registered charity number. They occasionally register names and addresses if the donor agrees to sign up for campaigns or actions and they will be able to provide information on these. UNICEF holds records of all collection can and bucket orders.
Contact the Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 or at helpdesk@unicef.org.uk if you would like to confirm anyone’s identity.
Who from UNICEF might contact you by telephone?
At times UNICEF may contact people by telephone to ask for support. We do use professional telemarketing agencies to help us do this and at the start of the call you will always be told that you are being contacted on UNICEF’s behalf. If you want to support us but prefer not to give your details over the phone all of our callers will be happy to send you a letter and a donation form in the post.
If the caller is a member of our in-house telemarketing team, they will also say they are calling from UNICEF. In both instances the caller will be knowledgeable about UNICEF and will be able to provide contact details to confirm if the call is genuine.
Contact the Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 or at helpdesk@unicef.org.uk if you would like to confirm any fundraisers’ identity.
Does UNICEF comply with official standards in fundraising?
As a member of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), UNICEF agrees to fundraise in accordance with the FRSB Fundraising Promise and the Institute of Fundraising Codes of Fundraising Practice. We use the FRSB logo on all of our fundraising materials to demonstrate our commitment to best fundraising practice. We also have a complaints system which follows the FRSB guidelines.
Contact the Helpdesk on 0844 801 2414 or at helpdesk@unicef.org.uk if you would like to know more about our membership of the FRSB.
What should I do if I have a complaint about UNICEF’s fundraising practice?
To ensure we deal with complaints about any of our fundraising activities efficiently and effectively, UNICEF follows a procedure provided by the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB). If you have a complaint about UNICEF fundraising, please call 0844 801 2414 or email complaints@unicef.org.uk.
We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 2 working days. We will then commit to investigating and responding to your complaint as quickly as possible. Following our response, if you are still not happy with the outcome of your complaint, you can contact the FRSB.
