I'm a canvasser for a great nonprofit that is completely legit. We hire trustworthy folks, get permits from the city/state, and put people's contributions to good work. I understand completely folks' hesitancy in this day and age. But complete fear is usually unnecessary.
If it's a cleaning product scam, or something along those lines, okaaay, I get it, that's sketchy. But if it's a group with a permit, a proven track record, and a friendly face, let's take a step back from the world we live in and interact with the person on your doorstep.
You don't need to let them in, and you could always come outside and shut the door behind you.
So no matter how you feel on the issue, here are a few tips across the board:
1 - Know that canvassing is legal, as long as an organization has a permit.
2 - Notice the person's behavior. If they're craning their neck around you or ogling your big house, it's perfectly natural to be wary. But as a canvasser myself, I treat everyone the same. I show the same respect to a poor college kid as I do to a millionnaire. Yesterday a woman gave me a $15 donation, and 2 doors down a man handed me a hundred dollar bill - I thanked them both the same because they both did 2 key things: they gave me a chance, and they both made a difference in my campaign.
3 - Be straightforward. If you're going to say no, say no. If you're going to say no, but want to hear about the campaign anyway, say so. IF they're a good canvasser, they'll be excited to talk about it (and if they're with my group, they'll ask you to sign a petition or volunteer, or at least look us up online), and unless your neighborhood has left them frazzled, 9 times out of 10 the opportunity to build a relationship with the community is enough. And if you care about the issue, be straightforward with that too! MY FAVORITE PEOPLE say one of two things: "Thanks for coming out here, but I'm not going to sign up" (at which point I thank them and go) or "Yep, I'm with it, cut the spiel, what do you want?"
4 - BE NICE. Whether you hate being asked for money, are afraid of the world outside your door, or hate hippies and college kids, please be nice. When I was younger I made a hobby of keeping a telemarketer on the phone for as long as possible. Now, though, I at least show them a little respect even if I weasel my way off the phone asap. The key to this is very simple: put yourself in the canvasser's shoes. They've had a long day walking out in the sun/rain/snow/ice/wind/bugs/Bush territory and are probably out there because they care about what they're working for, or maybe they just really need a job, but either way, they haven't done anything wrong. And let's face it - most people are just as rude as you were, so we're not raking in the big bucks here. If I wanted to scam you I'd probably be a lot cleverer and a LOT lazier about it!
It's legal if it's a legit cause, and if you arent interested you can say no thanks. They're not forcing themselves into your home, and if you dont' want to listen to them they'll take up approximately 15 seconds of your time. You dont' have to pretend to care about their campaign, but you can ACTUALLY care about THEM. Offer them some water, or, you know, don't sick your dog on them.
Sorry for rambling...2 final things. One is a few tips on how to see if it's legit, and the other is a quick argument in favor of canvassing.
Is the Canvasser Legit?
Some key things to start with are:
1, is the person twitching, swaying, or generally acting like a junkie?
2, Do they have something to identify their organization? Can they tell you their director's name?
3, Do they know where people's contributions go?
4, If you ask if you can do it later, or look up the website, what do they say? IF they say yes, but with me is better, that's NOT a red flag - it's the truth. They cut out online fees, and make getting involved quick and easy for you, and insure that you won't forget to give. IF they say no, it's a limited time offer, or get antsy about a website or physical office address, that IS a red flag. A good canvasser wants you to get involved right then and there for obvious reasons, but they will also encourage you to do it later. No, we dont' get credit if you do it online. Nonprofits don't have time for that. But the good eggs want you to get involved, period, because it's that good of a cause.
And finally...my quick argument in favor of canvassing.
Genuine personal interactions are incredibly rare these days, and canvassers, quite simply, exercise free speech while challenging you to stop TALKING about the issues and DO something right then and there. You give your hard-earned money to causes you don't believe in EVERY day - to giant corporations that never give back to the community, to Big Oil, to questionably traded goods that fall apart soon after. We're not there to guilt trip you or make you angry, we're there to give you an opportunity to give to something you actually BELIEVE in. If you don't believe in what we're talking about, you shouldn't give! But if you do, and you're able to, then you should. We won't make you, and if you don't we'll tell you to have a great night anyway. But if you do, you'll brighten our night because it's one more person that wants to do something good, and we're one step closer to creating positive social change.
Alright, I'm done canvassing this forum
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A word to stick up for us door to door folks...
