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Nancy McHenry asks about ethics
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Q: Help! The previous Director of Development agreed to provide board members who write lift notes to individual donors with the amount of individual donations made as a result of their efforts. I am concerned about protecting the privacy rights of our donors. Is there something more substantial other than ethics that will help me to maintain their privacy.
Patrick O'Heffernan responds:
It depends on what you told them to begin with. If your materials, including your web site and your solicitations, clearly state that privacy will be protected, you can point to those. I would also check with the Association of Fund Raising Professionals for their guidelines. A good argument is that you might anger them and lose them --so why take a chance? Don't forget to put an aggregate amount in the note :-)
Anonymous vs Public Giving
One question I would ask is whether the donor gave with the expectation that their name would be kept anonymous vs. public (and therefore agrees to have their name printed on your org's marketing materials.) I sometimes give anonymously - and ask that my name be not shared even with the staff. When I do, I expect my name to stay private - even from boardmembers. Otherwise, sure - please send me the handwritten notes. A very nice gesture. :)