Secret summit hears donor fears

Charity marketers who persist in sharing their donor data with other organisations are risking a fresh backlash after a study has revealed that almost two-thirds of all donors say they would be very concerned if a charity passed their details on.
The practice, which has been widespread for years, has come under close scrutiny following recent accusations that many charities are following aggressive marketing strategies.
The issue has been highlighted in research presented by the DMA at a charity summit hosted by the Fundraising Standards Board and the Institute of Fundraising.
The closed-door event, which was not open to the media, was designed to review concerns about telephone fundraising practices.
The study, based on a survey of 1,002 donors, shows that 64% of people said they would be very concerned if a charity passed their contact details on to another organisation, while 62% would feel this way if a charity kept asking for money. Some 71% of donors aged over 65 said that both practices would seriously concern them.
Almost half (49%) and 57% of over-65s said they would be very concerned if a charity sent them too much marketing material.
Meanwhile, 48% said they would be very concerned about a charity not keeping the promise made on their permission statement (the statement seeking permission to contact donors), while 41% would be very concerned if a charity lost their contact details.
Other details about the study remain under wraps as, for some reason, the organisation which commissioned it and the one which carried it out do not want to be identified, according to Third Sector magazine.