OPINION: For beneficiaries’ sakes, don’t allow people to opt out of even being asked to help them

Ian copySir Stuart Etherington’s review, published today, recommends allowing donors to opt out en masse from being asked to make a donation. Ian MacQuillin, rather unsurprisingly, thinks this is a bad idea. Continue reading OPINION: For beneficiaries’ sakes, don’t allow people to opt out of even being asked to help them

NEW IDEAS: The fundraising commons – not quite the tragedy we might think

Ian copy

How do we prevent chronic over-fundraising leading to a tragedy of the commons in donor recruitment? Ian MacQuillin believes the solution has bee around for the past 15 years.  Continue reading NEW IDEAS: The fundraising commons – not quite the tragedy we might think

OPINION: ICO ruling on telephone fundraising is ethically-unbalanced regulation

Ian copyThe ICO’s recent ruling on contacting TPS-registered donors is ethically-unbalanced regulation that potentially harms beneficiaries, argues Ian MacQuillin. Continue reading OPINION: ICO ruling on telephone fundraising is ethically-unbalanced regulation

NEWS: Self-regulation should be reformed on advertising industry model

Plymouth University’s Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy (CSP) and its think tank Rogare have called for the formation of a totally new body to write, maintain and own fundraising’s professional standards. Continue reading NEWS: Self-regulation should be reformed on advertising industry model

OPINION: A once-in-a-decade opportunity to give self-regulation some ‘bite’

Adrian SargeantPlans to introduce lay members to the Institute of Fundraising’s standards committee are mere tinkering. Adrian Sargeant calls for a wholesale review of fundraising self-regulation and the creation of a new sector body to own fundraising’s professional standards. Continue reading OPINION: A once-in-a-decade opportunity to give self-regulation some ‘bite’

OPINION: Fundraisers must retain control of their professional standards

Ian copyThe rules governing how fundraisers do their jobs could soon be determined by people who aren’t fundraisers. Ian MacQuillin details seven flaws in the reconstitution of the Institute of Fundraising’s standards committee. Continue reading OPINION: Fundraisers must retain control of their professional standards

OPINION: How the Olive Cooke tragedy affects fundraising ethics and self-regulation


The tragic suicide of Olive Cooke obviously has implications for fundraising ethics. Ian MacQuillin digs below the media hysteria to indentify what the real issues are, and suggest how the fundraising profession should respond.

Continue reading OPINION: How the Olive Cooke tragedy affects fundraising ethics and self-regulation