Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour instructs charities and welfare institutions: Do not pressure donors or exploit their emotions

Faisal Matar – As part of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ commitment to strengthening trust between charitable organizations and the public, and to entrenching principles of privacy respect and professional practices in communication, awareness, and marketing of charitable projects, the Ministry has stressed that heads of boards of directors of charitable associations and endowments must adhere to guidelines governing communication with the public and donors.

A senior source in the Ministry of Social Affairs told Al-Qabas that the Ministry emphasized the necessity of respecting citizens’ privacy, and prohibited the use of their personal data or private contact numbers without their prior consent. It also called for refraining from sending repetitive text or electronic messages, or making phone calls that could be considered harassing to the public or that might negatively affect the reputation of charitable work.

The source added that the Ministry stressed that communication should be limited to individuals who have expressed their willingness to receive information or updates regarding the activities and projects of the charitable entity, and that a clear and easy mechanism must be provided enabling the public to unsubscribe or stop receiving messages and notifications at any time.

Regarding the commitment to credibility, the source clarified that the Ministry urged charitable organizations to adhere to credibility and transparency when presenting charitable projects and programs, and to avoid using any phrases or practices that could be interpreted as pressuring donors or exploiting emotions unprofessionally.

He noted that the Ministry emphasized the prohibition of sharing or exchanging donor or beneficiary databases with any other entity without explicit legal consent, alongside observing appropriate times for communicating with the public.

The Ministry has required all charitable organizations to comply with these guidelines and operate in accordance with them from the date of their issuance, thereby contributing to enhancing public trust in the charitable sector and consolidating best practices in public communication.