Fundraisers Fear Potential Donor Research Crackdown

After an article published by The Wall Street Journal raised questions on invasion of privacy by fundraisers researching donors, some in the nonprofit sector that conduct research on potential donors fear the article might spur a crackdown by the government on the information fundraisers can glean while researching potential donors.

The article titled, "Is Your Favorite Charity Spying on You?" details the way some hospitals screen patients' admissions records searching for wealthy patients, portraying the fundraising profession negatively. Elizabeth Crabtree, a previous president of the research association, was interviewed for the article. Upon reading the article, she said that it was one-sided and the writer of the article was "intent upon causing concern." Crabtree said, "We're not spying on people, for goodness' sakes."

Crabtree writes about her disappointment in seeing her profession regarded in such a negative light, saying, "The reporter chose to incite rather than to inform the public by manipulating the facts, often by simply leaving out important information or context." Crabtree, who is now the director of prospect development at Brown University, in a different interview clarified that the research association has an ethics code that protects and ensures the privacy of their donors and that prospect research on potential donors is all available public information comparable to the information in the business world's market-research divisions.

The article from The Wall Street Journal that started all of the interest in prospect research has at least given the professionals that work in the research field an opportunity to inform and educate the public on prospect research and its purpose. Crabtree said, "There is really nothing 'creepy' about connecting a donor's passion and interest to a nonprofit organization's mission and initiatives."