ethics is crucial at every level in fundraising

Laura Haskell

 Does anyone have any feedback on the below scenario?  I replaced actual name of donor and organization with a pseudo one.   Thanks!

 

Louise is a retired nurse who has made regular semi-annual contributions to the Happy Nurse Foundation for several years. Now in her early 80s, she lives alone in a small home which she has owned for 40 years. Her income consists of a modest pension and interest from $75,000 worth of investments. 

After receiving information from the Happy Nurse Foundation about endowed gifts, Louise contacts the foundation office and says that she would like to contribute $50,000 to establish an endowment in her name to assist with the education of nurses who are new to community practice.

This gift would serve a need, and would also set an example and possibly inspire others to provide similar generous gifts. However, you the fundraiser are concerned about Louise donating so much of her savings. Louise insists that she understands what she is doing, that she can afford to make this gift and that she has discussed this with her sister who has also made a similar contribution to another organization. 

Would you acknowledge that Louise knows what she is doing and accept the gift? Or would you refuse the gift? Or is there a third possible

 

Leanne MacMeekin

Laura Haskell:

 Does anyone have any feedback on the below scenario?  I replaced actual name of donor and organization with a pseudo one.   Thanks!

 

Louise is a retired nurse who has made regular semi-annual contributions to the Happy Nurse Foundation for several years. Now in her early 80s, she lives alone in a small home which she has owned for 40 years. Her income consists of a modest pension and interest from $75,000 worth of investments. 

After receiving information from the Happy Nurse Foundation about endowed gifts, Louise contacts the foundation office and says that she would like to contribute $50,000 to establish an endowment in her name to assist with the education of nurses who are new to community practice.

This gift would serve a need, and would also set an example and possibly inspire others to provide similar generous gifts. However, you the fundraiser are concerned about Louise donating so much of her savings. Louise insists that she understands what she is doing, that she can afford to make this gift and that she has discussed this with her sister who has also made a similar contribution to another organization. 

Would you acknowledge that Louise knows what she is doing and accept the gift? Or would you refuse the gift? Or is there a third possible

 

 Laura - this is a great question.  This forum is the forum for discussing user group meetings.  You might want to post it to the general The Raiser's Edge Forum http://forums.blackbaud.com/forums/3.aspx.  Scroll down and you'll see a Write a New Post button near the middle of the page.  You'll be more likely to get responses there!

JoAnn Strommen

Laura Haskell:

 Does anyone have any feedback on the below scenario?  I replaced actual name of donor and organization with a pseudo one.   Thanks!

 

Louise is a retired nurse who has made regular semi-annual contributions to the Happy Nurse Foundation for several years. Now in her early 80s, she lives alone in a small home which she has owned for 40 years. Her income consists of a modest pension and interest from $75,000 worth of investments. 

After receiving information from the Happy Nurse Foundation about endowed gifts, Louise contacts the foundation office and says that she would like to contribute $50,000 to establish an endowment in her name to assist with the education of nurses who are new to community practice.

This gift would serve a need, and would also set an example and possibly inspire others to provide similar generous gifts. However, you the fundraiser are concerned about Louise donating so much of her savings. Louise insists that she understands what she is doing, that she can afford to make this gift and that she has discussed this with her sister who has also made a similar contribution to another organization. 

Would you acknowledge that Louise knows what she is doing and accept the gift? Or would you refuse the gift? Or is there a third possible

 

Laura,

Good question.  Do you have any reason or evidence that she is not mentally competant?  Does she have an investment/financial advisor that you could visit with (with her attendance/knowledge)?  Or does she have children you could consult? 

Also, if you're talking endowment is the gift now or upon her passing?  Maybe scheduling the gift after she is gone would ensure that she will not need the funds.  While you said she's in her home now, if she ends up in a nursing facility at $6000/month for 5 years there certainly could be issues.  I understand your concern. 

Just a couple thoughts.

I admire your concern for her best interests!