FIA writes open letter to Choice

The Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) has written an open letter to the Directors of Choice (NFP consumer advocacy group) magazine calling their report on “nuisance calls” a “telephone fundraising attack”.

Choice partnered with the consumer lobby for older Australians, National Seniors, in order to call for an end to “unwanted phone calls asking for money”.

“Calls asking for money are intrusive and put vulnerable members of society at risk when they are hounded week in and week out,” said Choice Head of Media Tom Godfrey.

“Unfortunately consumers can’t use the do not call register to opt out of all nuisance calls, with for-profit companies call centres exploiting the charity exception to hound people.

“Clearly the law needs to change to allow people to opt out of all unsolicited calls that involve financial transactions.”

Rob Edwards, CEO of Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) said many on the Choice board, including Chair Nicole Rich, head of Family, Youth and Children’s Law at Victoria Legal Aid, are working towards the same goal of helping the less fortunate in society. “Why have they now decided to go on the attack against charitable fundraising?” he asked.

“Nearly every member of their board is involved with a charitable cause that makes fundraising appeals to the community using the very channels they are trying to kill off. What is behind this? We would like to know and have asked these members of the philanthropic community to please explain.”

Godfrey told Third Sector that FIA “needs to take a long hard look at the way they are representing the industry”.

“They should not be sending out snarky letters and bullying the Choice board,” he said. “It is an absolute disgrace.”

“We know we need to ensure charities are well funded but we have a problem if they are harassing people to get these funds.”

FIA highlighted that many of Choice’s board members are involved with various NFPs.

“Why are these people on the attack against fundraising, when they are obviously big supporters of the charitable and not-for-profit sector themselves?” said Edwards.

“Choice Magazine itself is not just a fellow not-for-profit but an aggressive marketer using email, telephone, social media and direct mail tactics to gain new members. They use publicity from attack campaigns like the current one directed at other not-for-profits to raise their own profile at the expense of others in the sector.”

FIA said that Choice should know that “the environment for fundraising has never been more difficult.”

“The ACNC, which regulates charities, has recently reported that there are approximately 60,000 registered charities able to fundraise in Australia. That is 60,000 charitable causes that need community financial support. Last year Australians contributed $7 billion in gifts to charitable causes. Choice is putting this giving at risk for the sake of gaining some cheap publicity for itself,” said FIA.

“One of the main ways these charities support their mission is through fundraising. This involves asking people to give money. The reality is, people do not give unless they are asked. The telephone is one of the best and most cost effective ways for charities to do this.”