Standards Section C : Fundraising

Standard C1: Donor requests

Developing a policy on donor requests will help your organization’s staff and volunteers to understand how and how often to contact established and potential donors.

Standard C1 Explained

Standard C2: Donor lists

When an organization sells its donor list, it relinquishes control over the data and risks having the information used for a purpose other than that for which it was collected.

Standard C2 Explained

Standard C3: Donor anonymity

Donors may have many legitimate reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, and it is essential that nonprofits respect these requests.

Standard C3 Explained

Standard C4: Independent advice

Most fundraising professionals are not trained lawyers or financial experts. As such, though they might provide useful advice about the implications of a donation, it is good practice to refer clients to other professionals who are able to provide sound legal or financial council.

Standard C4 Explained

Standard C5: Receipts

A gift-in-kind is a gift of any property excluding cash. Gifts-in-kind could include gifts of real property (land or buildings), personal use property (an item used in a personal rather than a business context, for example clothing), intangible property (investments), or intellectual property (patents, licenses).

Standard C5 Explained

Standard C6: Fundraising activities

All fundraising activities conducted by or on behalf of the organization must: be truthful, accurately describe the organization’s activities, disclose the organization’s name, disclose the purpose for which funds are requested, disclose the organization’s policy with respect to issuing Official Income Tax receipts including any policy on minimum amounts for which a receipt will be issued; and, disclose, upon request, whether the individual or entity seeking donations is a volunteer, employee or contracted third party.

Standard C6 Explained

Standard C7: Misleading claims

To develop a robust donor base, an organization must represent its activities truthfully.

Standard C7 Explained

Standard C8: Exploitation of beneficiaries

Exploiting beneficiaries in order to attract donations can involve depicting individuals in a way that upholds stereotypes, is demeaning, or that disregards a person’s dignity.

Standard C8 Explained

Standard C9: Fundraising materials

Fundraising materials including print or e-mail solicitations must include the organization’s address and / or other contact information to ensure that individuals who wish to learn more about the organization or to make a donation are able to contact the organization.

Standard C9 Explained

Standard C10: Payment of fundraisers

CRA is adamant that fundraising should not deliver more than incidental private benefit to those involved.

Standard C10 Explained

Standard C11: Behaviour of fundraisers

Anyone seeking or receiving funds, on behalf of the organization, whether a volunteer, employee or contracted third party must: act with fairness, integrity, and in accordance with all applicable laws; cease contacting a prospective donor who states that he/she does not wish to be contacted; disclose immediately to the organization any actual or apparent conflict of interest or loyalty; and not accept donations for purposes that are inconsistent with the organization’s mission.

Standard C11 Explained

Standard C12: Fundraising policies

While all nonprofit and charitable organizations in Canada depend on some form of fundraising, Imagine Canada recognizes that Canada’s nonprofit sector is incredibly diverse and that organizations have differing needs with regards to fundraising and fundraising policies. 

Standard C12 Explained

Standard C13: Face-to-face solicitations

While all nonprofit and charitable organizations in Canada depend on some form of fundraising, Imagine Canada recognizes that Canada’s nonprofit sector is incredibly diverse and that organizations have differing needs with regards to fundraising and fundraising policies.

Standard C13 Explained

Standard C14: Cause-related marketing

Increasingly, the media and the general public are critical of for-profit companies that raise funds for charities and nonprofits, arguing that too much money goes to the business and not enough to the cause itself.

Standard C14 Explained