(Arlington, VA) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) today strongly encouraged everyone who is able to give to the Haiti relief efforts, but to also take steps to ensure their contributions will be used ethically and effectively.
AFP is posting guidance and advice to charities and fundraisers about disaster-relief fundraising on its website (
www.afpnet.org), as well as a blog covering news related to fundraising for Haiti relief. The association will also soon make a donation to the relief efforts.
“An immediate response to the earthquake in Haiti is necessary, and AFP urges everyone to give to the relief efforts,” said Maehara. “However, taking just a few precautions can ensure your money goes to legitimate organizations and truly helps the people of Haiti.”
Maehara recommends that people take their time when deciding to make a gift and not respond to high-pressure requests. “If you’re contacted by phone, check to see if the organization has a website and make sure you’re comfortable with them,” she said. “Relief efforts need money immediately, it’s true, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wait half an hour while you review an organization and then make a gift.”
Maehara suggested the following tips and guidelines for donors when making a contribution:
- Don’t be fooled by charities with worthy-sounding names, or names that might sound similar to other organizations. Some questionable charities create names that are intended to sound like other well-known charities and mislead potential donors.
- If an organization is slow to respond to requests for a website or more information, or doesn’t respond at all, consider giving to another organization.
- Don’t be fooled by technical-sounding terms like “tax i.d. number” or other jargon. Lots of different types of organizations have “tax i.d. numbers,” but it doesn’t make them charities. Organizations pushing these sorts of jargon should be avoided. I’m not sure what this bullet means.
- Ask a telemarketer if he or she is working for a percentage of the funds raised, is paid a set salary or fee or is a volunteer. If the telemarketer is taking a percentage of funds raised, hang up the phone. Percentage-based compensation is considered unethical.
- While the strength of the charitable sector is its diversity of organizations, both large and small, relief efforts require significant resources. Contributions may be more effective in the short-term when given to larger and well-known organizations with experience in disaster relief.
Maehara also pointed to documents such as AFP’s Code of Ethics and The Donor Bill of Rights that highlight what is and isn’t acceptable conduct for charities and fundraisers. By reviewing these documents at www.afpnet.org/ethics, donors will be more informed and confident about their charitable giving decisions.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents 30,000 members in 207 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. For more information, go to
www.afpnet.org.
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