Description:

Recently, there have been many news stories about donors getting special perks either before the public or that are not even available to the public. Examples include COVID vaccines for donors to health systems and admission to colleges for relatives of donors to those institutions (see: Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal on Netflix). Per Mike Geiger, President and CEO, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), in his statement dated February 2, 2021, “This activity—allowing wealthy and privileged donors to gain access…at the expense of others who have fewer resources—also perpetuates already staggering inequities in our society. This is especially concerning as philanthropy has been—and should continue to be—not a perpetuator of inequity, but rather a great ‘democratizer’ for our society, bringing people of all backgrounds together to rally around a cause.”

Join us for a virtual panel discussion with experts from higher education, healthcare and the performing arts to examine the ethical implications of donor benefits. How do organizations steward donors with perks and rewards, while also maintaining ethical integrity?

Presenters:

Anna Cramer, Development Manager, Des Moines Performing Arts

Anne Kremer, Dean of Admission, Drake University

John Smith, Vice President for University Advancement, Drake University

Brad Watkins, Senior Director of Communications, NorthShore University Health System Foundation

Moderated by Ronnie Wells, Development Coordinator, On With Life