Fund-Raising and Privacy Issues

To the Editor:

Your article on the use of the new product Planned Gift Prospector (“Fund Raisers Debate a Product That Monitors Viewing Habits,” August 21) represented the nature of the initial debate, but not where the more important discussion should lead.

From the invention of written language, advancement in technology continues to challenge the philosophical underpinnings of society. Written language allowed people the opportunity to divorce their ideas from the physical representation of themselves.

The dangers that came with that challenge did not prevent people from utilizing this invention for both good and evil purposes. In the same way, the questions of privacy and full disclosure will remain issues that nonprofit officers must consider, whether we introduced this product to the marketplace or not.

If a nonprofit group would dismiss the use of the product on the grounds of privacy and disclosure violations, I would remind them that the product performs the same way any existing e-mail campaign has for years.

Unfortunately, the potential abuse of this technology is where this discussion is being stalled. In abusive hands, we heartily agree with those who would advocate for Planned Gift Prospector’s elimination; it would be detrimental to all parties if it were misused.

As technology continues to be introduced and made available to fund raisers, questions about whether and how to use technology are likely to become more frequent. It is to everyone’s benefit that these decisions stay well informed.

Michael Ames
Business-Development Specialist
The Pursuant Group
Dallas