We all like to imagine a ‘golden age’ where charities raised all the money they needed through volunteers. Sadly, if this was ever the case, it isn’t today.

Volunteers are hugely important to charities generally and the sector couldn’t operate without them. Some types of fundraising, especially events, retail and community fundraising, are driven through volunteers, without whom they would cost rather than make money.

However, other sorts of fundraising, like TV advertising, fundraising from companies and so on are specialist areas that require experience, training and a full time commitment. In these areas, sometimes it is more effective for a charity to use private fundraising companies than to raise funds through staff or volunteers.

It should also be remembered that volunteers, while they give their time and energy for nothing, do carry a cost - they have to be recruited, trained, equipped and kept in touch.

This is covered in our Factsheets: Cutting the number of mailings you receive and Getting your name removed from mailing lists

Most UK charities find that it costs between 15 and 25p to raise £1 - but these topline figures are not the full story. Our section on The costs of fundraising will tell you more.