Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are approaching the quarter million pound benchmark for their Tribute Fund scheme, proving beyond doubt that this kind of fundraising can work for charities which aren’t medical causes and don’t deal with cause of death.

Guide Dogs have implemented a well-executed programme, staffed by professional and enthusiastic individuals who wholly believe in the scheme. Their systems and processes work, the Guide Dogs staff are happy to be on the end of the phone, and are very comfortable dealing with the bereaved in person – all contributing factors to this fantastic success.

They also have the ‘Name a Puppy’ trump card, which ticks so many boxes for Tribute Fund supporters. When a Guide Dogs Tribute Fund reaches £5k, the family of the deceased can, if they choose, name a guide dog puppy; most name the puppy after the person the Fund remembers. This has proved a massively popular ‘commemorative option: it literally allows the name of the deceased to live on through the good work of the charity. The family grow closer to the charity, enjoying regular ‘Pupdates’ and the chance to meet and cuddle their named puppy early in its training.

In fact, once the once-daunting £5k target has been reached, many families feel so inspired (and have been looked after so well by the Guide Dogs team) that they go on to reach for £10k and beyond. Brilliant fundraising.

Quarter of a million – if I had a tail I’d wag it!

Clare Hallsworth