Face-to-face fundraising is currently the best way we have to build our community of long-term regular giving supporters, who in turn support our fearless researchers in transforming lives through medical research.

You might have come across our face-to-face fundraisers on the street or in a shopping centre. NeuRA’s face-to-face fundraisers work in several locations in Australia and provide a vital link between our organisation and the general public. Their job is to recruit donors who are committed to our mission and able to support us with a long-term regular donation.

Face-to-face fundraising is currently the best way we have to build our community of long-term regular giving supporters.

Face-to-face fundraising is often misconstrued in the media. Here, we answer some of the most common questions people ask about this essential form of fundraising.

Why is face-to-face fundraising important to NeuRA?

Face-to-face fundraising is the most cost-effective way to engage people who might not otherwise know about our work in personalised and passionate conversations, and to provide them with an opportunity to support NeuRA with a regular donation.

Long-term, regular funding allows our scientists to budget for their future research plans.

What is a NeuRA Discovery Partner?

Discovery Partners are donors who pledge to give a regular, usually monthly, donation via their credit card or bank account to support our work. There are a number of ways to become a Discovery Partner, one of which is to sign up on the street or in a shopping centre with one of our face-to-face fundraisers. The donation is drawn on the 15^th of each month.

The funding that is generated through our NeuRA Discovery Partner program is not tied to any particular research area and allows us to cover the cost of work and equipment not provided by government. Long-term, regular gifts enable our scientists to budget for the future. 

How do I know if a NeuRA face-to-face fundraiser is legitimate?

NeuRA has street and shopping centre fundraising teams working in various locations in Australia.

Our fundraisers can be identified by the following:

• They should wear an official ID badge, which includes: the fundraiser’s name and badge number, a photograph of the fundraiser, the NeuRA logo, and the name of the fundraising agency that has hired the fundraiser to work on our behalf.
• They should wear a NeuRA branded uniform - either a white polo shirt or dark indigo jacket, with the NeuRA logo clearly visible on the front of the shirt or on the front and back of the jacket.
• They may use an official NeuRA pitch card that describes our work.
• They will give new donors an official NeuRA Thank You pack to take home.
• They will use either an iPad or other small tablet to securely record and store donor details. We do not use paper pledge pads.

If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a fundraiser that you recently spoke to, or if a face-to-face fundraiser is not wearing their badge or uniform, please contact our team on 1300 888 019.

Why does NeuRA use professional collectors, not volunteers?

Professional collectors can provide the level of fundraising expertise that we need to ensure the long-term sustainability of our face-to-face fundraising program. It is simply not possible to coordinate a sustainable face-to-face program using volunteers alone.

NeuRA also believes that face-to-face fundraising is a fun and rewarding way for many people to make a living working for a cause they believe in. 

How does NeuRA ensure Supplier compliance with Australian workplace laws?

NeuRA is committed to the lawful and socially responsible engagement of human labour in its supply chains, and we expect the same standards of our suppliers of fundraising services.

What is the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA)?

Face-to-face fundraising is regulated by Australian state and territory governments. These regulations ensure that charities and professional fundraisers comply with relevant laws related to licensing, disclosure requirements and hours of operation, among other things.

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) is the self-regulatory body for face-to-face fundraising in Australia. The role of the PFRA is to make sure that the right balance is maintained between the duty of charities to ask for donations and the right of the public to experience high standards of behaviour from our members’ fundraisers.

The PFRA now requires all charity and supplier members to participate in its accreditation program and undertakes routine quality assurance checking of face-to-face teams to ensure a high standard across the face-to-face fundraising sector. 

NeuRA is a voluntary charity member of the PFRA and is committed to abiding by their ethical and professional standards.

How does NeuRA choose the fundraising agencies we work with?

NeuRA engages professional fundraising suppliers to provide vital face-to-face fundraising services across Australia. Together, they inspire hundreds of new donors every year to join our Discovery Partner program.

NeuRA only works with professional fundraising suppliers that are members of the PFRA and who provide evidence of compliance with all relevant workplace laws.

Can face-to-face fundraisers accept cash or a single donation?

For their security, face-to-face fundraisers cannot accept cash or single donations. To donate to NeuRA, please click through to the form via the donate button in the corner of this website or phone our team on 1300 888 019.

How do I make a complaint?

We value our supporters and like to receive feedback. If you have any questions or concerns related to our face-to-face or door-to-door fundraising activity, please contact us on 1300 888 019 or by sending an email to supporter@neura.edu.au.

For further information please contact us between 9am and 4pm (AEST) Monday to Friday on 1300 888 019 or supporter@neura.edu.au.