Nonprofit Fundraising Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance
Fundraising ethics are not merely aspirational - many are legally binding. This annual review ensures all fundraising practices meet AFP ethical standards, comply with state fundraising laws, and honor donor rights.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Annually
- Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
- Role: Development Director / Executive Director
- Total Items: 28
Donor Bill of Rights
Verify adherence to Donor Bill of Rights.
- Financial information available to donors on request?
- Tax-exempt status confirmed to donors on request?
- Annual report publicly available?
- No harassment or undue pressure in solicitations?
- Donor restrictions on gifts honored as specified?
AFP Code of Ethics
Verify AFP Code of Ethics compliance.
- No fundraising staff compensated on commission or percentage of funds raised?
- Donor information kept confidential and not sold or shared without consent?
- All solicitation materials accurately represent the organization?
- All fundraising staff properly credentialed or supervised?
- Conflicts of interest in development staff disclosed and managed?
Professional Solicitor Contracts
Verify professional solicitor compliance.
- Professional solicitor contracts registered with state if required?
- Professional solicitors providing required disclosures to donors?
- Professional solicitor performance reviewed against contract terms?
- Background checks on professional solicitors conducted?
State Fundraising Compliance
Verify state fundraising compliance.
- Charitable solicitation registrations current in all states where soliciting?
- Required state disclosures in all solicitation materials?
- Annual registration renewals completed on time?
- Telephone solicitation scripts compliant with state telemarketing laws?
Donor Privacy
Verify donor privacy practices.
- Written donor privacy policy adopted and published?
- Donor opt-out from list rental or sharing respected?
- List rental policy reviewed for ethical acceptability?
- Donor credit card data handled securely per PCI DSS?
- Anonymous gift requests honored and not disclosed?
Ethics Training
Train development staff on ethics.
- All development staff trained on AFP Code of Ethics?
- Donor Bill of Rights training for all client-facing staff?
- Process for reporting ethics concerns without retaliation in place?
- Any prior ethics concerns fully addressed?
- Fundraising ethics reviewed as standing agenda item at development team meetings?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Capital Campaign Management and Compliance
- Nonprofit Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Management
- Nonprofit Online Fundraising Platform and Compliance Audit
- Nonprofit Fundraising Event Planning and Compliance Checklist
- Nonprofit Financial Policy Annual Review and Update
- Nonprofit Strategic Plan Development and Implementation
- Nonprofit Board Member Recruitment and Onboarding Checklist
- Nonprofit Organizational Capacity Building and Strategic Planning
Related Fundraising Events Checklists
- Nonprofit Fundraising Event Planning and Compliance Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Silent Auction Planning and Management Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Charity Run and Walk Event Planning Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Event Planning - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign Compliance - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Special Event Revenue Compliance and Reporting - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Year-End Annual Appeal Campaign Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Capital Campaign Management and Compliance - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Online Fundraising Platform and Compliance Audit - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Fundraising Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance?
This nonprofit fundraising ethics and donor rights compliance helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for development director / executive director professionals, this checklist covers 28 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Fundraising Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance cover?
This checklist covers 28 inspection items across 6 sections: Donor Bill of Rights, AFP Code of Ethics, Professional Solicitor Contracts, State Fundraising Compliance, Donor Privacy, Ethics Training. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed annually. Each completion takes approximately 2-3 hours.
Who should use this Nonprofit Fundraising Ethics and Donor Rights Compliance?
This checklist is designed for Development Director / Executive Director professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.