How the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice Compares

Introduction: In this paper, the ethical code of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is compared with the ethical codes of five other professional organizations in order to more completely discover those areas in which the AFP Code is on solid footing with other, like organizations, as well as where the AFP Code may be lacking from an objective viewpoint. The comparative codes used were some of the best-written professional conduct codes from various well-respected professions of our society. These codes are:

· American Bar Association (ABA) Creed

· American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Code of Professional Conduct and Bylaws

· American Medical Association (AMA) Oath and Law of Hippocrates

· American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Code of Ethics

· United States Department of Commerce (DOC) Model of Business Principles

Professional ethical codes have been in existence for thousands of years. Just as codes were established to protect professions from outside contamination (i.e.: a person p

It is perhaps just as important to recognize that there are those standards of definition to ethical practice as true to fundraising as any professional. These are ethical, legal, and professional, and though separate, they overlap. While many of the standards cited in this paper deal with ethical and professional behavior, legal behavior may be an easier, yet no less important, standard. It certainly holds the most peril if violated. Thus, by its shear punitive nature must be adhered to vigorously.

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The answer to the first question may be found in the simple fact that the two professions exampled, as well as many others, are already regulated by legal means, and have a separate set of codified laws governing their actions; laws and regulations that grew out of the public's mistrust and previous poor experience with such professionals. Perhaps the statement "what is not legal is not ethical" also may be a guiding factor as well.

· to practice their profession with integrity, honesty, truthfulness, and adherence to the absolute obligation to safeguard the public trust;

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Approximate Word count = 4625
Approximate Pages = 19 (250 words per page double spaced)