NonProfit Times seeks "World's Best Fundraisers"

The January 15, 2007 issue of The NonProfit Times will be the "World's Best Fundraisers" issue and they are seeking suggestions for people to consider. The categories are 40 & Younger, trendsetter, cause marketing, online, international and living legend. Suggestions should be confined to fundraisers who work at nonprofits, except in the living legend category. Please email suggestions to ednchief@nptimes.com.

(Rick Christ is a Contributing Editor to NonProfit Times Direct Marketing Edition)

Nonprofits Policing Each Other's Sites?

Two recent articles should make all nonprofit webmasters a little more eager to keep their sites up to standards.

A Sept. 25 AP story reports that the Democratic National Committee advised its opposite number, the RNC, that volunteers who sign up at the RNC site (GOP.com) have their email addresses exposed due to a security flaw in the site. According to the article, " The addresses can be accessed with a few simple computer key strokes after logging on to the Republican National Committee Web through a standard registration process available to all users."

The GOP response is predictable: "This is another cheap political stunt not grounded in reality."

In a more serious case, NonProfit Times is reporting that the National Federation of the Blind is suing retailer Target because Target.com is not adequately accessible to the blind. NFB contends that this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nonprofit sites might be similarly affected by this ruling. In other words, NFB might sue your organization if you don't comply with industry accessibility standards.

While we cringe at the thought of nonprofits suing each other, we do recognize that nonprofits have responsibilities to their users and would-be users, and one way or the other, nonprofits have to meet those responsibilities.

IRS poking into nonprofit web sites?

As part of the Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2005 (S. 1321), that "friend" of nonprofits Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) added some provisions regarding what nonprofit organizations must disclose.

According to page 124 of "DESCRIPTION OF THE CHAIRMAN'’S MODIFICATION":

"The proposal requires a tax-exempt organization subject to reporting requirements under
section 6033(a) to include on its annual return any name under which such organization operates
or does business, and the Internet web site address (if any) of such organization."

Apparently, organizations who file IRS 990 or 990-EZ have had to report their web address previously, but not so with organizations, mostly very small nonprofits, who file informational returns (IRS 990-PF).

We see this as further allowing the camel's nose under the tent flap. What business is it of the IRS, or Senator Grassley, what web sites a nonprofit operates?

Take Children's Privacy Seriously

Today's Washington Post (registration required) and DMNews both have articles today about how online marketing firm Xanga.com and its owners got hit with a fine for $1Million for violating terms of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Specifically, they registered some 1.3 million children under the age of 13, and gave them online accounts, without notifying parents and getting consent.

If you want to attract kids to your site, make sure you comply with the provisions of COPPA. While most nonprofits are exempt, that will probably change the first time some nonprofit is accused of violating "the spirit" of the act.

Read more about COPPA at our site.