Critical Fundraising

Expanded typology describes many more ways charities are being cut out of doing good

New white paper expands the typology of ‘disintermediation’ – all the ways other actors displace nonprofits in giving, asking for support, and providing aid and help
Disintermediation is marked by whether or not a charity retains control in, and of, relationships with stakeholders – applies particularly to fundraising re donors
New concept of ‘citizen fundraiser/ing’ goes beyond ‘volunteer’ to describe fundraising done by lay people outside the remit of the fundraising profession
More detail on how other actors, particular companies, are delivering services and providing help to people in need
Expanded typology is first step in mapping the routes that charities could take to ‘reintermediate’ into the relationships and processes from which they are displaced
Seeking partners to co-create a toolkit to help charities reintermediate.

Philanthropy advisors cut fundraisers out of stewarding relationships with donors

Philanthropy advisors are increasing displacing charities from stewarding relationships with donors and helping create meaning from their giving.

This is the case put forward in a new white paper from the international think tank Rogare – Death by a thousand cuts: How other actors are displacing charities from giving, asking for support, and providing help (the first phase of a four-phase project with Kingston University Business School in London)

‘Citizen fundraisers’ are taking ownership of fundraising methods

People are increasingly raising funds for good causes outside the reach and remit of the fundraising profession.

While there have always been volunteers who have fundraised for charities, the case made in a new white paper from the international think tank Rogare – Death by a thousand cuts: How other actors are displacing charities from giving, asking for support, and providing help – is that the term ‘volunteer’ is no longer sufficient to describe and encompass all the ways that people conduct raising money for good causes.

NEWS: Safeguards needed to protect fundraisers when payment by commission is not covered by codes of practice

Now that commission-based pay has been deregulated in Australia and the UK, those opposed to commission will need their ethical arguments to carry the day
However, many ethical arguments against commission are flawed and not necessarily strong enough to defeat ethical arguments in favour of commission
One powerful argument against commission – which has not previously been made – is that it could harm to fundraisers’ psychological wellbeing
We propose 12 safeguards to protect fundraisers and other stakeholders if commission is to be paid; it should not be paid unless these safeguards are in place
We also float the idea that professional institutes could issue permits for organisations to pay commission to fundraisers.

Chartered Institute of Fundraising calls for charities to sign Donor Code of Conduct pledge

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising, along with Rogare – the Fundraising Think Tank, has today called on charities across the UK to sign a pledge committing to develop and implement a Donor Code of Conduct that will safeguard fundraisers from inappropriate donor or supporter behaviour. This comes after more than half of surveyed fundraisers reported having experienced behaviour by a donor or supporter that made them feel physically or mentally unsafe.

NEWS: Give fundraisers ownership of their tasks and targets if you don’t want them to leave

Having ownership of tasks and practising a variety of skills is significantly linked to intention to stay in a job
But pro-social mindsets have no effect on turnover intention; pro-sociality is what gets people into fundraising in the first place, but not what keeps them in a job
Fundraisers should have a say in setting their own targets
Charities should provide fundraisers with skills-based continuing professional development.

NEWS: Do fundraisers care too much? New research reveals the hidden trauma and burnout crisis in fundraising

New research from Irish fundraiser Michelle Reynolds highlights four factors contributing to stress among fundraisers
Fundraisers feel they can’t say no to taking on extra work
Perception that the trauma and mental health issues experienced by fundraisers are “nothing” compared to those experienced by beneficiaries and frontline staff
Fundraising/charity leadership needs to tackle endemic burnout in the fundraising profession, which it has ignored for too long

NEWS: Charity values may not be so important to the ethics of turning down donations

This contention is made in new paper produced by Rogare with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Posits that most decisions based on alignment with a charity’s values can also be made by considering the harm that would result from accepting the donation
The Rogare paper is a companion to CIoF’s guidance on creating gift acceptance/refusal policies.

Fundraising insights from Australia and New Zealand

Rogare’s director Ian MacQuillin visited Australia and New Zealand in September with the support of Rogare Associate Member Giving Architects. In this blog he considers various aspects of that trip:

Rogare’s ethics of school fundraising project
The implications of this project being conducted in Australasia
Alternative conceptualisation of a fundraising profession
Māori philanthropy and fundraising.

NEWS: New Rogare project to create concepts and tools for resolving ethical dilemmas in fundraising for schools

Project to be conducted among school fundraisers in Australia and New Zealand
A bespoke normative lens of school fundraising ethics is needed, as lenses of ethics devised for mainstream fundraising do not map directly onto the dilemmas faced by school fundraisers
A major ethical concern for school fundraisers is donor dominance by parents
A suite of toolkits, guidance and decision-making frameworks to be made freely available to the fundraising profession by July 2025
While the work is based in Australia and New Zealand, the ideas and outputs will be applicable in many other countries, particularly English-speaking countries.