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Fundraising Ethics: A Rights-Balancing Approach

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Abstract

The topic of fundraising ethics has received remarkably little scholarly attention. In this paper, we review the circumstances that precipitated a major review of fundraising regulation in the UK in 2015 and describe the ethical codes that now underpin the advice and guidance available to fundraisers to guide them in their work. We focus particularly on the Code of Fundraising Practice. We then explore the purpose and rationale of similar codes and the process through which such codes are typically constructed. We highlight potential weaknesses with the current approach adopted in fundraising and conclude by offering a series of normative perspectives on fundraising ethics that could be used to review and revise the current code and potentially improve the quality of future fundraising decision making.

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Abbreviations

AFP:

Association of Fundraising Professionals

FRSB:

Fundraising Standards Board

F-Reg:

The Fundraising Regulator

IoF:

Institute of Fundraising

NCVO:

National Council for Voluntary Organizations

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, Plymouth Business School, University of Plymouth, Room 504, Cookworthy Building, Hampton Street, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Ian MacQuillin & Adrian Sargeant

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  1. Ian MacQuillin
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  2. Adrian Sargeant
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Correspondence to Ian MacQuillin or Adrian Sargeant.

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There are no potential conflicts of interest as this work was not funded by a research grant. Nor did it involve primary research with human subjects or animals.

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MacQuillin, I., Sargeant, A. Fundraising Ethics: A Rights-Balancing Approach. J Bus Ethics 160, 239–250 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3872-8

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