Conclusion

Despite some legislative and judicial victories, the vital right to donor privacy remains under assault in a variety of venues across the country. We need to be vigilant and ready to act quickly when activists and politicians seek to diminish the right to donate anonymously to charitable organizations and civic causes. We may additionally choose to support legislation like the Personal Privacy Protection Act. But it is also imperative to increase public understanding of the many reasons why a donor would choose to avoid disclosure and the critical role donor privacy plays in the health and sustainability of civil society. Fortunately, a broad coalition of groups spanning the ideological spectrum already understands the importance of opposing bills that would undermine donor privacy. Recent experience shows that growing that coalition and expanding support for donor privacy among the general public will significantly increase the likelihood of legislative and judicial victories moving forward.