Guidelines: Policy on Donation Asks in Our Slack Community
Introduction to Our Policy
As our Slack community for animal advocacy has grown in popularity, we've faced an increasing number of requests for donations. Our movement operates under significant funding constraints, and this policy aims to maintain equity and focus within our community. Similar rules exist in other forums and lists within the animal advocacy sphere, such as the FAST list and the FAST Forum, which have been established to ensure fairness and prevent undue pressure on members.
Reasons Behind the Policy
- Equity Among Charities: Allowing donation requests can create an imbalance. Charities active on Slack and willing to post requests might gain an unfair advantage over those who do not, leading to potential inequities within our community.
- Member Wellbeing: Donation requests, even when made on behalf of other organizations, can feel obligatory and be a source of stress or distraction, particularly for members working for nonprofits or those with limited incomes. As a community primarily made up of charity employees and volunteers, it's understood that most, if not all, initiatives could benefit from additional funds. This policy acknowledges our collective funding challenges and aims to prevent feelings of unfairness or conflict.
- Focus on Collaboration and Discussion: Our primary goal is to facilitate open discussions and collaborative efforts. Prior to this rule, donation requests began to overshadow other communications, detracting from our core mission of fostering collaboration and exchange.
Implementation of the Policy
While we recognize the importance of fundraising, we must apply this policy universally to maintain fairness. Exceptions cannot be made for individual cases without risking perceived unfairness. To balance the need for fundraising with our community guidelines, we've initiated alternative solutions:
- Giving Tuesday Thread: An opportunity for charities to promote their work was provided, focusing on a designated thread to minimize disruption.
- Donation Recommendations: During the giving season, we've allowed for recommendations that exclude self-promotion, facilitating community-driven support without direct asks.
Future Considerations
We're committed to exploring additional ways to support our members' funding needs and share opportunities in a manner that aligns with our community's values and objectives. Our aim is to implement these methods thoughtfully, ensuring they contribute positively to our mission and maintain the integrity of our community.