This week the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) held its annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Throngs of people attended mainly to beef up their fundraising prowess. Knowing that people would rather count raindrops than attend a session on ethics, I was pleased with the level of member engagement during two sessions where I was a presenter on the topic. 

One session dealt specifically with the AFP Code of Ethics.  The second covered the relationships between the AFP Code of Ethics, the recently updated Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice and the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. During each session the presenters’ role was to share ethical guidelines and then facilitate a discussion using cases to raise dilemmas and, when possible, bring clarity.   I was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the participants and their commitment to ethical behavior for their own good and the betterment of the fundraising profession.     

It’s great that the people most closely connected to charity donors seek to operate ethically but as these sessions went on, it became apparent that fundraisers need support from others within their organizations.  Several members told of frustrating circumstances where they were challenged to get coworkers and volunteers to see the advantages of operating within the AFP Code.   We identified strategies for building supportive networks in and outside of the organization and educating coworkers about the Code and its importance before issues arise. 

The Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice and the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability also support the efforts of well-meaning fundraisers because these tools extend beyond the fundraising profession and also address other aspects of the organization. Charities that use the IS Principles as a framework for discussions about transparency, good governance, financial management and solicitations should be better positioned to ensure ethical fundraising practices. Organizations accredited by the BBB WGA demonstrate through rigorous evaluation that they have been truthful in their public communications, they have strong operational and financial oversight and they are striving to achieve their goals. These charities will also make it easier for a fundraising professional to operate within the AFP Code. 

For those interested in seeing how the Code, Principles and Standards are complimentary, here is a link to a chart that compares the three models:  https://twitter.com/wisegiving/status/582710628634214400/photo/1  The pressure on organizations to raise revenue for mission based work is ever present.  The charitable sector must use all it has at its disposal to make it easier for fundraisers to do their jobs the right way. 

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors.  Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving.  Our recently evaluated charities include: 

• Aga Khan Foundation USA
• Baby Buggy
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network
• ChildFund International
• Fistula Foundation

Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.  

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance