Fundraising methods

FTC/NASCO Conference on Consumer Protection and Charitable Solicitation Highlights a Rapidly Evolving Landscape

On March 21st, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Association of State Charities Officials (NASCO) hosted “Give and Take: Consumers, Contributions and Charity,” a conference exploring the intersection between consumer protection issues and charitable solicitations, with a focus on new and evolving fundraising practices. This event brought together leading stakeholders, including regulators, researchers, practitioners, charity watchdogs, donor advocates, and members of the nonprofit sector.

Senior Partner, Seth Perlman, and I were fortunate to be able to attend the conference and hear about the latest trends in charitable fundraising. Art Taylor, CEO of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, summed up the primary theme of the conference well: “In 30 years, I have never been to a conference where change was more central to the conversation.”

State regulators began the conference with a review of recent regulatory enforcement actions. These actions primarily concerned allegedly false or misleading charitable solicitations made directly by charities, or through their commercial fundraisers. New York Senior Assistant Attorney General Karin Kunstler Goldman noted that governance failures are the second most frequent area of enforcement. A number of the fundraising-related enforcement actions involved statements made to prospective donors that donations would be used for specified purposes that failed to be realized. In one typical case, the charity or fundraiser pledged that donated funds would be used to assist individuals in need in the donor’s community but ended up being applied elsewhere. Another example was a promise that donations would fund medical research but instead were used to cover distribution of in-kind donated goods.

FTC attorney Tracy Thorleifson, acknowledged that because the Commission is empowered to prevent corporations from “unfair or deceptive acts or practices,” its regulatory jurisdiction over charitable solicitation activities is limited to entities that are “organized to carry on business for [their] own profit or that of [their] members.” On that basis, the FTC’s regulatory scope covers a broad array of for-profit companies whose business involves charitable fundraising activities (e.g., businesses engaged in cause marketing, telemarketers, direct mail companies, and technology companies that create fundraising software and tools), and typically does not cover charitable organizations and their normal charitable solicitation activities. As recently seen in the FTC and multi-state action against Cancer Fund of America though, the Commission has extended its reach to cover charitable organizations that it believes are primarily operated to financially benefit key insiders or businesses.

In reflecting on the history of the First Amendment in charitable solicitation regulation, Professor David Vladeck of Georgetown University School of Law noted that the Supreme Court has repeatedly reaffirmed that it is unconstitutional for states to compel charities (or their fundraisers) to disclose, at the point of solicitation, the percentage of donations to be paid to fundraisers, or to impose percentage-based restrictions as a pre-requisite to soliciting funds in a state. On the other hand, he noted that states are permitted to require fundraisers to disclose information regarding fundraising expenses when asked. The Supreme Court has also affirmed that states can enforce their charitable solicitation laws, which prohibit the making of false statements (which are not protected by the First Amendment) in charitable solicitations.

Other speakers described new technologies that are being used to give nonprofit supporters a unique way to experience a charity’s mission, including through the use of augmented or virtual reality. Rachel Hatch of the Institute for the Future previewed what she projects the future may look like in ten years, identifying a movement towards “personal economies” as a major trend. Individuals generate charitable revenue through various online activities, including advertising revenue or content access fees generated by large online audiences watching content they’ve produced. She asked regulators to consider how they might regulate fundraising in a world where the focus of a fundraising-related endeavor is no longer on the nonprofit beneficiary, but on the content creators who ask their followers to support a charitable cause.

In discussions related to the evolving forms of fundraising, few incidents of fraud were brought up. One example noted, though, was an online personal cause crowdfunding campaign that raised $9,350 following the Boston Marathon bombing. The campaign creator pled guilty to falsifying facts regarding her injuries on the day of the bombing and spent a year in prison.

A number of conference panelists remarked on the rapid growth of online fundraising and crowdfunding platforms. A number of interesting points were made, including the following:

  • Steve MacLaughlin, Vice President of Data & Analytics at Blackbaud, shared that while online giving continues to constitute a small percentage of overall giving in the United States, it significantly outpaces the rate of growth of other forms of fundraising. According to Blackbaud’s 2016 Charitable Giving Report, online charitable giving grew by 7.9% in 2016 compared with a 1.0% increase in overall giving.
  • Daniel Gordon, Head of Trust and Safety for GoFundMe, highlighted some of the unique characteristics of online crowdfunding platforms that can help operators take steps to verify whether a campaign is legitimate, including the ability to use social media data to identify when campaigns are primarily raising funds from “friends and family” (lower risk) vs. strangers (higher risk); the use of established risk indicators to focus internal investigation efforts; the establishment of procedures for authenticating campaign creators; and the ability to pause withdrawals until campaign creators provide greater transparency on their campaign pages.
  • Nageeb Sumar from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation noted that new data systems may hold the promise of enabling donors to make informed decisions about nonprofits without requiring overly burdensome research.

At the end of the day, we listened to conversations between leaders from charity watchdogs and the sector on best practices for educating donors. Guidestar CEO Jacob Harold made an open plea to charity regulators not to further perpetuate the “overhead myth” in their donor education efforts. He acknowledged that while it may be appropriate for regulators to consider overhead ratios as part of their overall investigatory efforts, such numbers do not meaningfully represent the effectiveness of a charity in carrying out its mission. He cautioned that such percentages should not be promoted as a key indicator of an effective charitable beneficiary.

There was apparent consensus affirming the distinct role that charity regulators play, to prevent fraudulent solicitations and enforce charitable fundraising laws, from that of charity watchdogs and nonprofit associations such as Independent Sector, which promote best practices and good standards of conduct for charitable organizations.

Here are two of my personal take-aways from the conference:

  1. The past must inform the present (and the future!).

Many of the regulatory issues that have arisen in traditional forms of fundraising (e.g., telemarketing, direct mail) are still useful to consider in newer forms of fundraising. Companies developing new technology and tools for conducting fundraising should consider how risks of fraud, deception, or misleading solicitations have arisen in the past, and can arise in new and evolving fundraising methods, so that those risks can be appropriately addressed in these new business models.

As I’ve mentioned in a prior blog post, where regulation of traditional fundraising methods has historically emphasized compliance with statutory disclosures (e.g., paid solicitors must disclose their paid status at the point of solicitation), this disclosure concept is often communicated under the notion of “transparency” when considering new technology-driven fundraising methods.

  1. Technology should harness its unique characteristics for good.

Traditional methods like direct mail, which continue to have a strong history of success and ROI, are not going away, but donor giving through the use of new technologies is particularly important for engaging millennials, as well as for broadening an organization’s geographic reach. Companies at the intersection of technology and cause are a critical force in the development of new, innovative tools to exponentially grow charitable fundraising efforts. They should also take advantage of the significant data accessible to them to develop technology features to detect potentially fraudulent solicitation efforts, and develop policies and procedures for addressing such risks when they arise.

Companies and charities actively involved in charitable fundraising or in developing or using new platforms and tools for fundraising must be cognizant of the complex multi-state, multi-agency regulatory framework that applies to charitable solicitation activities as they push the boundaries of innovation. As noted by Andrew Watt, former CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, “regulation works best when the effort is conducted collaboratively with the regulated.” This conversation on the evolving world of charitable fundraising will continue at the Fall NASCO conference in DC. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

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FTC/NASCO Conference on Consumer Protection and Charitable Solicitation Highlights a Rapidly Evolving Landscape

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who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

A.B. Data
AB InBev Foundation
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Avalon Consulting
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Bleeding Blue for Good Fund
Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Brooks Brothers
Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Doctors of the World/ Medecins du Monde
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
Feed The Children
Food For The Poor
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Hope for New York
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
J. Crew Group
Johns Hopkins University
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
LSU Foundation

Marts & Lundy
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
NAACP Foundation
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Marrow Donor Program
National Park Foundation
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
PopSockets
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Save the Children Federation
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Subaru of America
The Little Market
Touro University
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
United Way Worldwide
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
Vote.org
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YWCA USA

A.B. Data
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
American Rivers
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Burger King McLamore Foundation
Cancer Care
Carnegie East House and James Lenox House Association
Center for Car Donations
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Convoy of Hope
Cornell University
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Feed The Children
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Helen Keller Services
Hope for New York
Human Rights Watch
Humane Society of US
Indiegogo
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
Japanese American National Museum
Johns Hopkins University
Lane Bryant Charities
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
LSU Foundation
Mattel
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
National Breast Cancer Coalition
National Marrow Donor Program
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Obama Foundation
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Steinhardt Foundation
Subaru of America
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
University of Montana Foundation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YMCA USA
YWCA of New York City
YWCA USA

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news & events

Our attorneys’ recent contributions to the media and nonprofit sector publications.

news & events

Check out our attorneys’ recent contributions to the media and industry publications.

Secure Your Data – Seriously, AFP New York Chapter News
As Jon Dartley, a data privacy and security attorney at Perlman and Perlman says, “It is vital to have the appropriate legal terms in the contract to protect your interests.”  Find out what your liability limit is.  Have it in writing who bears the responsibility and cost of a data breach.  And, have the vendor agree on a specific timeframe within which they need to advise you of a data breach.

Warning: Don’t Cut Legal Corners When Mixing Social And Business Impact,  Forbes
Particularly striking is that (Karen) Wu believes this is the “first multi-state regulatory activity involving cause marketing in almost two decades.”

Going green: Law firms see business benefits of B Corp certification
Allen Bromberger and Karen Wu on why Perlman & Perlman is a certified B Corp.

Is stealing, then giving back, OK?
Cliff Perlman lends his advice on theft within a nonprofit.

Buyer Beware: Negotiating Terms in Technology Agreements
Jon Dartley provides tips on negotiating contracts with technology vendors.

Four Ways Charitable Giving Could Change with a Tax Overhaul
Cliff Perlman remarks on the possible threat of a change to charitable deduction.

How To Deal With Residual Data, Nonprofit Times
Jon Dartley’s advice on addressing “data exhaust”.

Paul Newman’s Foundation Fights Looming 200 Percent Tax, Bloomberg News
Allen Bromberger weighs in our socially responsible businesses.

Secure Your Data – Seriously, AFP New York Chapter News
As Jon Dartley, a data privacy and security attorney at Perlman and Perlman says, “It is vital to have the appropriate legal terms in the contract to protect your interests.”  Find out what your liability limit is.  Have it in writing who bears the responsibility and cost of a data breach.  And, have the vendor agree on a specific timeframe within which they need to advise you of a data breach.

Warning: Don’t Cut Legal Corners When Mixing Social And Business Impact,  Forbes
Particularly striking is that (Karen) Wu believes this is the “first multi-state regulatory activity involving cause marketing in almost two decades.”

Going green: Law firms see business benefits of B Corp certification
Allen Bromberger and Karen Wu on why Perlman & Perlman is a certified B Corp.

Is stealing, then giving back, OK?
Cliff Perlman lends his advice on theft within a nonprofit.

Buyer Beware: Negotiating Terms in Technology Agreements
Jon Dartley provides tips on negotiating contracts with technology vendors.

Four Ways Charitable Giving Could Change with a Tax Overhaul
Cliff Perlman remarks on the possible threat of a change to charitable deduction.

How To Deal With Residual Data, Nonprofit Times
Jon Dartley’s advice on addressing “data exhaust”.

Paul Newman’s Foundation Fights Looming 200 Percent Tax, Bloomberg News
Allen Bromberger weighs in our socially responsible businesses.

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue and green logo

click to exit page

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue and green logo

click to exit page

silk lanterns

who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

A.B. Data
AB InBev Foundation
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Avalon Consulting
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Bleeding Blue for Good Fund
Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Brooks Brothers
Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Doctors of the World/ Medecins du Monde
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
Feed The Children
Food For The Poor
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Hope for New York
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
J. Crew Group
Johns Hopkins University
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
LSU Foundation

Marts & Lundy
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
NAACP Foundation
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Marrow Donor Program
National Park Foundation
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
PopSockets
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Save the Children Federation
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Subaru of America
The Little Market
Touro University
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
United Way Worldwide
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
Vote.org
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YWCA USA

A.B. Data
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
American Rivers
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Burger King McLamore Foundation
Cancer Care
Carnegie East House and James Lenox House Association
Center for Car Donations
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Convoy of Hope
Cornell University
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Feed The Children
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Helen Keller Services
Hope for New York
Human Rights Watch
Humane Society of US
Indiegogo
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
Japanese American National Museum
Johns Hopkins University
Lane Bryant Charities
LSU Foundation
Mattel
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
National Breast Cancer Coalition
National Marrow Donor Program
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Obama Foundation
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Steinhardt Foundation
Subaru of America
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
University of Montana Foundation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YMCA USA
YWCA of New York City
YWCA USA
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

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Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the highest quality, integrity-driven legal services to our clients, using a practical, consultative, client-focused approach to identify and respond to problems and challenges.

We strive to maintain a culture characterized by respect, opportunity, diligence, mutual empowerment, entrepreneurship, and fair reward for efforts made on behalf of clients and the firm.

Perlman & Perlman is a Certified B Corporation

Certified B Corporations use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps are unlike traditional businesses because they

  • Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards
  • Meet higher legal accountability standards
  • Build business constituency for good business