Charities urged to adopt a Donor Code of Conduct
Join the movement for a donor code of conduct to protect fundraisers and improve safety standards in charitable organizations. Charities are being urged to create a Donor Code of Conduct to safeguard fundraisers from donor or supporter behavior that makes them feel unsafe.
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising, together with fundraising think tank Rogare, has urged charities across the UK to sign a pledge committing to develop and implement a Donor Code of Conduct. This code will protect fundraisers from inappropriate donor or supporter behaviour.
The move follows a survey of fundraisers that found more than half reported experiencing donor or supporter behavior that made them feel physically or mentally unsafe. The 212 anonymous responses highlighted the following: among the 96 respondents who completed further questions about inappropriate behaviour, the report reveals the main type of inappropriate behaviour reported as sexually inappropriate behaviour, including examples noted in the survey.
The survey found that the most significant amount of inappropriate behaviour was committed by major donors and philanthropists or carried out towards major donor and philanthropy fundraisers, though it is not limited to those people or situations.
“The main type of inappropriate behaviour reported was sexually inappropriate conduct, underscoring the need for clear guidelines and safeguards for fundraisers.”
In summary, the push advocates for formal recognition of a Donor Code of Conduct to create safer, respectful environments for fundraisers and to set expectations for donor interactions across charitable organizations.
Author's note: The pledge seeks to standardize safety norms in fundraising, ensuring fundraisers can work with reduced risk of harassment or intimidation.