Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Making Money Off of Terri Schiavo

Some of you may know a bit more about privacy in the fundraising business. I know that I've never worked for a nonprofit that sold its lists of donors. We felt we had a responsibility to those who supported us to keep their history of support private.

Well it sure ain't the case with the fundraising folks on the right, and that includes some heavy hitters literally related to Lou Sheldon, of the Family Values Coalition.

The parents of Terri Schiavo have authorized a conservative direct-mailing firm to sell a list of their financial supporters, making it likely that thousands of strangers moved by her plight will receive a steady stream of solicitations from anti-abortion and conservative groups.

. . .

Privacy experts said the sale of the list was legal and even predictable, if ghoulish.

"I think it's amusing," said Robert Gellman, a privacy and information policy consultant. "I think it's absolutely classic America. Everything is for sale in America, every type of personal information."

What do you bet that direct mail they are using to raise funds doesn't go into the pockets of the Schindlers to help pay legal expenses, but lines the pockets of Randall Terry and the like?

It is all about filthy lucre, folks. And those gullible enough to send in cash to the Schindlers are now going into mass-marketing/fundraising HELL!