Unacceptable behaviour by donors, condoned by charities. Things must change.
In summary, and just from my own, limited, evidence:
1) Some fundraisers are being subject to inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by donors, don’t know what to do about it, and fear that if they try to do something, they will not have the full backing of their employer charity, and may even lose their jobs.
2) Some charities are taking the view that fundraisers must suffer this behaviour because the donors are too important.
I have written a blog. https://tinyurl.com/y83cn4zv You will be horrified. Please read it, tweet it, and ask others to read it.
In my opinion. the sector needs to start discussing the realities of this.
Giles Pegram CBE
Philanthropy Manager
6 年Totally agree Giles, such behaviour is unacceptable and policies and procedures need to be created to properly deal with any such abuse of power. Well done for raising the issue.
Charity and Not for Profit Consultant
6 年Well said Giles. In my experience, the same can also be said in relation to inappropriate conduct of volunteers towards staff.
Independent family celebrant and charity consultant specialising in fundraising
6 年It is such a shame that this is the case although I know from my own personal experience in the industry that this is happening all the time and I would assume many potentially awesome fundraisers just leave the industry. One of the reasons I left a role was due to an important committee member, standing next to me at a high end ball with 700 attendees, running his hand all the way down my back and under my bottom, whilst whispering in my ear, that he could do this as his wife was at the other end of the room. My colleague witnessed it and ensured he kept me away from the committee member for the rest of the evening and the next day, my manager and I talked to the CEO but of course nothing was done, he was 'too important' to the organisation whereas I was not! Great article, Giles.
Founder & MD @ Professional Help & GriefChat Mental Health & Grief Support Expert
6 年As someone who has seen first hand the high turnover of young fundraisers and who was once (although not then a fundraiser) obliged to sleep with a chair wedged under a bedroom door to ‘protect’ myself against an important Committee member, I can only say that your observations don’t surprise me at all Giles. It is time that something was said to make the message very clear that abuse by position, whatever the power imbalance, will not be tolerated in the sector.
Independent Cancer Patient Voice and Advocate
6 年Donations and donors are important and the only means to raise charity funds, pick your donors and know they are the ones who will give, do not target ones who may not be right for for fundraising requests.