Nasty tricks being played on US fundraisers
Since the summer, someone has been calling US development officers and posing as a dying, wealthy individual ready to make a major donation. The Chronicle of Philanthropy has been receiving letters to the editor from some of the institutions. The fraudster sometimes uses the last name Bolyer and his story is quickly debunked by an internet search for phone numbers, zip codes etc.
Here are a few of the groups he has contacted:
“…my guy promised to die within four months and leave my agency $154-million in liquid assets plus another $100-million to $200-million in his estate after the sale of his Hilton stock and his antique-car collection.” – Mississippi Children’s Home Services
“…he kept her on the line for an hour… he said his daughter (who he said had died three weeks earlier) had met one of our students on a plane and that had made her life a joy for the duration of it. In this case he was going to give us $40-million for a capital project and $5-million for an endowed scholarship in his daughter’s memory.” – North Park University
“…saying he was prepared to give the institution some $26-million. He even said he’d be flying from his Santa Barbara, Calif., home to Iowa on his private jet the following week to discuss his gift.” – Drake University
“In terms of savviness, he seemed as though he was someone who had made previous gifts to other organizations…” – Riley Children’s Foundation
My guess is that the fraudster is a very bitter development professional. Only they would understand the suffering and disappointment that these calls would cause!
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- Tip of the Week: How to evaluate major gift fundraisers
- Are fundraisers outside the circle of trust?
- Ancient forests video from Greenpeace UK
- Pet peeve: fundraiser wanted, must have car
- Four questions to ask, and a tea cozy to wear, when a prospect says “no”
