Online Fundraising Platforms Endorse National Principles to Protect Nonprofits and Donors

Fifteen online fundraising platforms have endorsed the National Council of Nonprofits’ Principles for Ethical Online Fundraising Platforms, supporting nonprofit consent, transparency, partnership, and accountability in online charitable giving.

Developed by NCN and its network of state and regional nonprofit associations, the principles address practices that can undermine donor trust and nonprofits’ ability to serve their communities, including soliciting donations without a nonprofit’s knowledge or consent and failing to clearly disclose fees.

“Nonprofits must have the power to decide how their names and missions are used to raise money, and donors deserve clear information about their gifts,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “We commend the platforms that have endorsed these principles. Their support is an important step toward wider adoption of ethical fundraising practices, and we encourage more platforms to endorse the principles and put them into practice.”

The platforms that have endorsed the principles include 4aGoodCause, Better Giving, DonationMatch, Every.org, GiftDrive, Givelink, MatchNice, myCharity, PhiloFund, Raffily, Raisely, SchoolAuction.Net, SoapBox Engage and Submittable.

The four principles are:

• Nonprofit Consent: Nonprofits must have the power and agency to decide for themselves how and when to engage with online fundraising platforms before they solicit or collect donations.
• Transparency: Donors must have the power and information they need to decide whether to make a donation through an online fundraising platform.
• Partnership: Online fundraising platforms must recognize nonprofits as valued, equal partners.
• Accountability: Online fundraising platforms must be accountable to nonprofits, donors, the public, and the appropriate regulators.

The principles have also been endorsed by NCN’s network of 52 state and regional associations of nonprofits with a combined membership of nearly 40,000 nonprofit organizations.

NCN invites additional online fundraising platforms to endorse the principles and incorporate them into their operations.

Read the full Principles for Ethical Online Fundraising Platforms.

NCN’s recognition of their support does not constitute an endorsement of their products or services or verification of compliance with the principles.