Donor Privacy Policies

Policy on discountinuing contact upon request
List exchange policy
Complying with accepted standards

Policy on discountinuing contact upon request

• Policy:  It is the policy of the Animal Humane Society (AHS) to discontinue contacting any person upon that person’s oral or written request directed to the organization, its professional fundraiser, or other agent.
  The Animal Humane Society shall maintain a record of all requests by persons who indicate to the Animal Humane Society, its professional fundraiser, and other agents, that they do not wish to be contacted by or on behalf of the Animal Humane Society.
• Limitation: This policy does not prohibit contact by the Animal Humane Society that is solicited by a person or a person’s representative, even if the person or his/her representative have requested to be placed on the "do not contact list." Contact by the Animal Humane Society that is solicited by a person whose name appears on "do not contact" list shall be limited to providing a direct response to the person’s inquiry and shall not cause the person’s name to be removed from the "do not contact" list.
• Procedure: Upon a person’s (or a person’s authorized representative’s) request that the Animal Humane Society to discontinue further contacts, the person’s name and address will be promptly removed from the Animal Humane Society’s database or modified to insure that no further contact is made with the person.  The Animal Humane Society will also take steps to insure that the person’s name is removed from any external databases or records under the Animal Humane Society’s control.
• Permanent Record:  The Animal Humane Society will maintain a record of all requests for discontinuance of contacts, effective with the adoption of this policy by the Animal Humane Society’s board of directors. Oral requests will be recorded in writing by the staff of the Animal Humane Society and maintained with the written requests. The records of persons who have made such a request will be maintained by the Animal Humane Society to the extent necessary for legal or liability purposes.

List exchange policy

• To assist in its mail-based fundraising efforts, AHS may, at times, share the names and addresses of its contributors and former contributors with other organizations, principally in order to obtain names and addresses of other likely donors from these organizations.  These organizations may solicit or otherwise contact AHS contributors by mail. Prior to the exchange, AHS must approve the content of the piece to ensure it meets acceptable standards and is appropriate.
• List exchanges are made under strict rules that provide for one-time use, consist of name and address only, do not allow for further retention of the donor information, and allow for continued use only when the contributor responds to the contact.  No other information is made available to third parties.
• AHS does not sell its contributor list for cash to any organizations.
• AHS does not share the telephone numbers or e-mail addresses of its contributors or former contributors with unrelated organizations.  AHS uses the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of its contributors and former contributors only to communicate directly with them.  AHS may, from time to time, communicate to donors via telephone or e-mail about products or services on behalf of organizations where AHS has a working relationship or partnership.
• AHS will not exchange its contributor list with any political party or candidate for political office.
• AHS contributors have the right not to have their names shared.  Contributors who do not want their names shared may call the Animal Humane Society Development Office at 763-489-2210 and request “no exchange,” or may indicate this preference when making contributions by mail, telephone or online.

Using names from other organizations:

• Periodically, in order to build our base of support, AHS rents or purchases lists from other organizations to reach prospective contributors.
• AHS will not rent or purchase lists from political parties or candidates for political office.
• AHS will not rent lists from organizations where such an association may harm the goodwill and trust between AHS and its contributors.

Complying with accepted standards:

• In list exchanges, as in other fundraising practices, AHS complies with the laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, the Communications Act, Federal Trade Commission, the laws of the State of Minnesota, and the regulations of the United States Postal Service. 
• AHS adheres to the ethical guidelines of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Donor Bill of Rights.  http://www.afpnet.org/ka/ka-3.cfm?content_item_id=9988&folder_id=898