Answer: The answer depends in part on your type of relationship with the charity (see “What types of charity relationships do you want?”). Expect less from a charity if you are a Distant giver, and much more if you are Fully Involved.
No matter what type of relationship you have with the charity, it should:
- Respond reasonably to your reasonable requests for information. It’s likely reasonable for a charity to take a few days to send you written information, and to ask you to pay for copying costs.
- Acknowledge you appropriately. The charity should give you choices as to how you’d like to be recognized for your donation, and follow your choice. And get your name right. If you wish your donations to be anonymous, the charity should not list you in its public donor lists.
- Respect your privacy. We recommend that each charity have a written privacy policy, publicly available to donors. If the charity has a website, check there. See also items VI and IX under “A Donor Bill of Rights.”
- Make effective use of your volunteer time.