Ethics Scenario #113: Progressive Education Project

113. Nathan is the regional director for the Progressive Education Project, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The Project’s mission is to provide voter education. It accomplishes this by identifying college student-aged, idealistic volunteers to go door to door with petitions, explaining why voters should be concerned about the environment, and asking for donations to support the organization. Typically, these canvassers get to keep half of the money they raise. A quarter of the money goes to people like Nathan, who supervise the canvassers. The remainder goes to support the state and national offices. Nathan was once a canvasser, and he was hired to become a full-time supervisor based on his success of being a part-time canvasser. The canvassers know about Nathan’s story, and hope that some day, their commitment to the organization will result in them being supervisors, having the quarter of the funds raised by the canvassers they supervise go to their own paychecks, and at least indirectly, preserve the environment for the next generation.

a. Is the fundraising model employed by the Project ethical?