The AAPC Board of Directors has adopted the following guidelines to provide essential principles and ethical standards for individuals and organizations engaged in digital fundraising activities through email, social media, and phones (texting). Given the explosive growth and importance of these channels, these guidelines outline best practices, transparency, and accountability, ensuring political fundraisers maintain integrity while raising funds for various campaigns and causes. Adhering to these standards fosters trust and credibility within the donor community and is expected of all AAPC members.

Transparency and Integrity

1. Members shall not engage in activities that harm their clients or the overall profession.
2. Members shall act with honesty, integrity, and transparency.
3. Members should ensure that third-party organizations appointed on behalf of their organization meet the highest standards.
4. Members should be accountable for the outcomes of their fundraising efforts, regularly reporting results and progress to clients and stakeholders. Transparency should extend to the allocation of funds, budgeting, and financial management.
5. Members should strive to maintain a high level of professional competence by staying informed about the latest industry trends, best practices, and technological advancements
6. Members should foster a culture of continuous improvement, seeking feedback from clients, donors, and other stakeholders to identify areas for enhancement and adapt their strategies accordingly.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

7. Members shall comply and stay up-to-date with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
8. Members shall ensure proper recordkeeping for clients for campaign finance reporting.

Data Protection and Privacy

9. Members shall handle donor data with the utmost care and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

i. Members shall use their best efforts to safeguard against data breaches and ensure the security of donor information, including name, address, credit card information, and other personally identifiable information (PII).

ii. Members must abide by AAPC’s Data Privacy and Compliance Guiding Principles.

10. Members shall obtain explicit consent for data collection and processing. Members shall disclose what information is being collected.
11. Members shall clearly disclose to clients what information that is collected during the course of a fundraising campaign will become jointly owned and how that information is to be used.
12. Members should be cautious when putting confidential information on generative AI platforms or tools. Members should always check and source the data generative AI platforms provide.

Donor Relations

13. Members should disclose the beneficiaries and the accurate use of funds to potential donors directly on the donation page.

14. Members should not create content with the purpose of deceiving donors regarding the recipients of their donations.

15. Members shall provide clear opt-out options for donors.
16. Members should exercise responsible targeting practices, ensuring that messages are not aimed at vulnerable populations or deliberately designed to deceive or defraud.

Non-Discrimination

17. Members should ensure that fundraising efforts are conducted in a fair and equitable manner, avoiding preferential treatment or unequal distribution of resources among candidates or campaigns.
18. Members shall refrain from disseminating content that is discriminatory or prejudicial based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

Avoid Conflicts of Interest

19. Members shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest to relevant stakeholders.

20. Members shall avoid conflicts of interest that may compromise impartiality, independence, or integrity in fundraising activities.

Examples of bad practices:

• Disclosing the funds will be used for one purpose and then allocating the funds to another function.
• Conveying false or deceptive information to motivate a donor to give.
• Not clearly stating if fundraising is on behalf of a different candidate.
• Using language like “final notice” to deceive donors that the solicitation is a bill.
• Using misleading sender information to appear the solicitation came from a government entity, official or signer that you are not a representative of.
• Using matching language when the donation is not matched.
• Failing to honor an opt-out request.
• Calling donors names, such as traitor, if they make the decision not to donate.
• Conducting “scam pac” fundraising practices where the true beneficiary is just the fundraising vendors