Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine whether a standardized method of regulating charitable fund-raising in Los Angeles County is useful. In determining the utility of standardization, the following questions were addressed: (a) How could standardization be achieved? (b) What form should standardization take? Research methodology. Data was collected by the use of mailed questionnaire and by interviews from government agencies (40 cities in Los Angeles County and the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California), professional associations (National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) and Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)), solicitors (City of Los Angeles Professional Fund Raisers), various charities, and donors. The data was correlated and analyzed through the application of frequencies and range expressed in percentages. Findings and conclusions. Philanthropy in Los Angeles County is plagued by the illegal activities of unscrupulous charitable organizations, lack of adequate donor education, the absence of a standardized and centralized fund-raising regulation process, and dwindling public trust. The three United States Supreme Court decisions on charitable solicitations have effectively denied states and municipalities the ability to properly regulate the fund-raising activities of charitable organizations at the point of solicitation. Recommendations. Utilize the "Model Act Governing Charitable Solicitations" (developed in 1986 by the National Association of Attorneys General/National Association of State Charity Officials and the Private Sector Advisory Group) by modifying it to meet current legal standards. Create an evaluation agency which will be solely responsible for evaluating and reporting the progress of a county-wide standardization effort. Join and actively participate in the activities of the Los Angeles Partnership for Ethical Charity (LAPEC), a community effort to educate donors on how to give wisely and to promote the ethical governance of charities, all toward the end of ensuring that billions of donated dollars are applied with effectiveness and efficiency to a host of public benefit service programs that would otherwise have to be funded at taxpayer expense. Create a Charity Information Center as a symbol of uniform regulation and utilize it as a clearinghouse for public information regarding charitable causes.