Things to Know Before Going Door to Door

Whether going door-to-door or standing on the street, canvassing is a one-on-one, face-to-face interaction with potential donors/constituents that’s unattainable through direct mail, e-mail and the Internet.

In her book “Fundraising for Social Change,” author Kim Klein devotes a whole chapter to door-to-door and canvassing strategies. She says canvassing in general is used by local groups and works best for campaigns or programs that directly affect the people being approached. And while fundraising should not be its sole purpose — she recommends using it, first, as an organizing strategy — door-to-door canvassing especially can be very effective for acquiring new donors who later can be renewed and upgraded.