The National Association of State Charities Officials has created http://www.nasconet.org/ to publish and invite comments on the Charleston Principles. Named for the city where the process of developing them started, the goal of the project is to provide common ground for state regulators and fundraisers as new forms of fundraising are developed to take advantage of the efficiencies and the reach of the Internet.

The website is designed to invite comment and discussion on the draft of the Charleston Principles. Any visitor can read the comments that have been submitted so far, and anyone who registers can add additional comments on any part of the draft. There are also some "hypotheticals" developed to spur discussion at the NASCO annual conference (held earlier in October in San Diego); the website affords an opportunity to comment on these hypos as well.

At the NASCO conference there were several small group discussions focused on the principles and the hypotheticals. NASCO members attended all the groups and recorded the comments and suggestions made by participants. The website gives people who couldn't go to San Diego a chance to join in the refinement of the standards.

Anyone who uses the Internet for fundraising will be interested in where the discussion stands today and has a stake in the outcome of this project. As you'll see if you visit http://www.nasconet.org/, I have already offered a few comments from my own point of view. Take a minute to visit NASCO's website and add your perspective.

The IRS Requests Comments as Well

The IRS is also requesting public comment about Internet fundraising, and several other questions as well. See http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/misc/IRS2000-84.html (where I've posted the notice at the Internet Nonprofit Center). Other areas on which the IRS is requesting comments include Political and Lobbying Activities and Advertising and Other Business Activities.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR (http://www.independentsector.org) will hold a public briefing and discussion on Thursday, November 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm as part of its work on preparing a response. Catherine Livingston, of Caplin and Drysdale, will discuss the issues raised by the IRS to be followed by a period of discussion to answer questions and raise issues of concern.

The meeting will be held in the conference room at Independent Sector's offices, located at 1200 18th St., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC. Those outside of the Washington metropolitan area may participate by conference call. If you wish to do this, please contact Avi Schaeffer at the e-mail address below.

If you are planning to attend the meeting (either in person or by conference call), would like a copy of the IRS announcement, or have any questions or comments about this process, please contact Avi Schaeffer at avi@independentsector.org or (202) 467-6112.

Comments in response to the IRS announcement are due before February 13, 2001, and may be submitted by email. The address is in the Announcement.

Fundraising Resources Continue to Appear

In spite of news accounts of contractions and diminished expectations, there continue to be new online resources that propose to help nonprofits raise money using the Internet. There's a pretty complete list at http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/misc/990804olfr.html

Since earlier this year, I've been noting changes and updates in a list at the very end of the file. If you want to know what's been added, just scroll to the bottom.

Comments, suggestions and support for the Internet Nonprofit Center are always welcome. Click on the comment button in the footer to get an instant email message addressed to the Editor.

Thanks for your interest,
Putnam Barber
Seattle