The Ethics of Asking

A college development officer is offered a generous gift by a donor whose identity would embarrass the institution. Should the development officer accept? A volunteer lies about his level of giving, but classmates believe him and match his "gift." Should donors be told the truth? A development officer must explain to a donor the difference between naming an endowed chair and selecting the person to fill the chair. Where is the line between reasonable donor expectations and intrusion? In The Ethics of Asking Deni Elliott and her co-authors analyse the difficult situations that confront real life college and university development officers. Under increasing pressure to compete for limited resources, such officers may often find themselves tempted to cut ethical comers. For the vast majority who want to do the "right thing," 'The Ethics of Asking offers practical guidance for recognizing and avoiding questionable tactics.
As higher education administrators of all sorts - not just development officers - are being called upon to identify prospective donors and approach them for gifts, the information and advice contained in The Ethics of Asking will be of interest to a broad audience of academic professionals. It can also serve as a guide for donors who wonder what's reasonable for them to expect from fund raisers. The authors' discussion of ethical issues in fund-raising campaigns and employment will appeal to professionals outside the university as well. Faculty and students in graduate program in philosophy of education and higher education, as well as those in the academic philanthropy programmes and fund-raising schools, will find the volume useful.