Top British Charities Back New Rules on Aggressive Fundraising

As Britain’s government weighs new restrictions on aggressive charity fundraising, 17 of the country’s biggest nonprofits have pledged support for regulations aimed at curbing serial phone and mail solicitation of vulnerable and elderly donors, The Guardian writes.

The signatures on a letter backing tougher measures to prevent harassment and exploitation of donors reflects growing concern amid recent media reports of major charities’ ties to commercial fundraisers implicated in high-pressure tactics targeting the elderly and the sale of donors’ personal data to other solicitors and alleged scammers.

The letter, organized by professional group the Institute of Fundraising, commits the charities to soliciting “in a way that respects the rights of individuals and meets the expectations the public has in us. Where we need to change the way we seek the support of the public we will do so.”