Fundraising Ethics and Accountability Flashcards

The CFRE International Code of Ethics requires credential holders to do which of the following?

Answer: Maintain competence through continuing education and uphold ethical standards

CFRE credential holders commit to ongoing professional development and to upholding ethical standards as part of their certification obligations.

Which of the following best describes 'informed consent' in a fundraising context?

Answer: The donor fully understands how their gift will be used and agrees without pressure

Informed consent means the donor has been given complete, accurate information about the gift's use and is giving freely without manipulation or pressure.

Why is it important for fundraisers to maintain accurate and complete donor records?

Answer: To fulfill fiduciary responsibilities and enable accurate stewardship and reporting

Accurate donor records support ethical stewardship, ensure gifts are used as intended, and fulfill the organization's fiduciary and reporting responsibilities.

Which of the following actions would violate a donor's privacy rights?

Answer: Sharing a donor's contact information with a third-party vendor without the donor's consent

Sharing donor information with third parties without explicit consent violates the donor's privacy rights and breaches the trust that is fundamental to the philanthropic relationship.

What is the purpose of the 'accountability' component in fundraising ethics?

Answer: To demonstrate that donated funds are used responsibly and as promised to donors

Accountability in fundraising means being transparent about how donations are used and demonstrating that the organization fulfills its promises to donors and the public.

A fundraiser discovers that a major donor was given inaccurate information about a program before making their gift. What is the ethical course of action?

Answer: Disclose the error to the donor, correct the information, and offer to honor the donor's wishes regarding the gift

Ethical fundraising requires correcting misinformation given to donors and empowering the donor to decide how they wish to proceed with their gift based on accurate information.