11.01.2007
PROTECTING CHARITABLE DONORS
"Call The Roll" - Columbus City Council
Roadside solicitations can account for a major portion of an organization’s yearly fundraising goals. Two local examples, the Charity Newsies effort to clothe needy children and the Fill the Boot campaign put on by area firefighters to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, are a success because of the generosity of Columbus residents.

Before those fundraising efforts can take place, both organizations must obtain a permit to stand in the public right-of-way at intersections and collect donations from motorists. Religious organizations that wish to use similar methods to raise money do not.

In an effort to level the playing field for all non-profit organizations that choose to collect money with roadside solicitations, Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther is working with the Columbus Division of Police, religious leaders, neighborhood leaders, and charities to make changes to the City Code. The proposed legislation will require all groups seeking to use the public right-of-way for fundraising activities to obtain a permit.

“This really is a public safety issue,” said Ginther, who chairs the Public Safety Committee. “Our police need to know who is in the right-of-way and our citizens have a right to know where their money is going.”

The legislation being crafted by Councilmember Ginther will look to close any loophole in the charitable solicitation law by requiring organizations to first obtain a permit before seeking donations. Once a permit is obtained, all groups (including religious organizations) will be limited to collecting money one day a year, at specified locations and during certain hours. Permit holders will also be required to disclose how much money was collected.

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