Fundraising Ethics: Theory & Practice

Fundraising Ethics: Theory & Practice
with Carrie Sauer, Homeless Alliance

• Why ethics matters: Public trust, donor confidence, and the reputation of the nonprofit sector
• Our professional standards: AFP Code of Ethical Standards
• How we think about ethics: Normative theories as tools for navigating gray areas
• A practical framework: Questions fundraisers can ask themselves when facing an ethical dilemma
• Practice: Small-group discussion of real-world scenarios

Fundraising is built on trust and maintaining that trust requires more than simply following the rules. In this interactive session, we’ll explore the ethical responsibilities fundraisers have to donors, organizations, beneficiaries, colleagues, and the broader nonprofit sector. We’ll begin with a look at public trust and confidence in nonprofits, followed by a practical overview of the AFP Code of Ethical Standards. From there, we’ll explore several normative theories of ethics and consider how they can help us navigate the gray areas that aren’t fully addressed by a professional code. Participants will learn a practical framework for thinking through ethical decisions and will put it into practice through small-group discussion of real-world fundraising dilemmas.