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Fundraising

Fundraising is an essential part of any nonprofit organization.  The Council believes that a nonprofit should strive to proactively seek funds, while also following ethical practices that will ensure the upkeep of trust for the organization, and respect for the sector as a whole among donors.

Fundraising Disclosures

Philosophy: The responsible actions of both donors and nonprofits promote and sustain a climate of giving. Fundraising methods therefore should be ethical and honest and encourage donors to give voluntarily, based on their interest and knowledge of the purpose, programs and achievements of a nonprofit. All information provided in connection with solicitations is accurate and not misleading.

Standard: Print, email and electronic solicitations identify the nonprofit that will receive the contribution and clearly describe the purpose or programs for which the contributed funds will be used. The donor also is provided with the address or phone number of the nonprofit.

Donor Financial Information Security

Philosophy: A nonprofit should protect the financial information of donors.

Standard: The nonprofit provides a secure environment for collecting donations and maintains internal controls governing the safekeeping of all confidential donor financial and personal information.

Donor Privacy

Philosophy: By protecting the privacy of donor information, a nonprofit helps build public trust.

Standard: The nonprofit provides a privacy policy on its website or by request that describes how donor information is collected and used. It allows donors to "opt-out" of making their private information available or shared. Also, the nonprofit has a board-approved discontinue contact policy guaranteeing that donors can be removed from solicitation and other mailing lists.

Soliciting Practices

Philosophy: Donors are entitled to know who is soliciting their gifts and what portion of their gifts a nonprofit will receive.

Standard: Solicitors who are not staff or volunteers of the nonprofit:

  • Identify themselves as professional fundraisers;
  • Upon request, provide the name and address of their employer or contracting party.

If the nonprofit is engaged in cause-related marketing or its name is used in connection with an event or the sale or marketing of goods or services, upon request, the nonprofit or a person authorized by the nonprofit to use its name provides accurate information about the percentage of gross revenue that the nonprofit receives.


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