Advancement · Community and Giving

Their words, where they said yes,
until the date they agreed.

A donor’s story is one of the strongest things a fundraiser can share, and one of the easiest to misuse: a quote on a channel they never approved, a photo they did not agree to, a name that was meant to be anonymous. Record exactly what each donor allowed, log every use, and let the organizer catch anything outside it.

Add a testimonialWhat you get
$12one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $12

Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Development and giving kit, $39 for 19 items.

Testimonials

The worked example is made up: a parent donor’s quote approved for the website and print, then used on social media with a photo, and an anonymous foundation whose permission has ended and whose name slipped into a report. Records save on this device only.

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What you get

Advancement · Community & Giving$12 · included with Classroom and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A record per testimonial with the donor, how they want to be named, the name as shown, the approval date and the end date; the channels allowed, photo consent, the approved text and whether it may be shortened; four checks; a log of every use with channel and photo; a printable permission form; flags for uses outside the approved channels, photos without consent, permission ended or ending within 60 days and an anonymous donor’s name in use.
Who it is for
Development directors, communications staff and volunteers at schools, colleges and nonprofits who share donor stories.
Format
Browser organizer with a saved record per testimonial. Prints a permission form with the approved text for the donor to sign, the testimonial’s record, every testimonial as a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$12 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Development and giving kit ($39) and the Advancement Suite pass ($99), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Community & Giving space in Caveat Advancement.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Draft the quote with the donor, in their words.
  2. Print the permission form and get it signed, or approved by email.
  3. Record the channels, name, photo consent and end date.
  4. Log each use as it goes out.
  5. Clear every flag, and ask before the end date whether to renew.

Add a testimonial

What a permission covers

Permission has four edgesWordsThe exact text they approved,shortened only if they agreedNameFull, first name and town, adescription, or anonymousPlacesOnly the channels they said yes toTimeAn end date, and a way to withdrawat any timePermission has four edgesWordsThe exact text they approved,shortened only if they agreedNameFull, first name and town, adescription, or anonymousPlacesOnly the channels they said yes toTimeAn end date, and a way to withdrawat any time
Staying inside all four is what keeps a donor willing to speak for you again.

Donor privacy

The Donor Bill of Rights, endorsed by the major fundraising associations, says donors can expect their information to be handled with respect and confidentiality and can ask to be anonymous. Showing a gift amount, a photo or a full name each needs its own yes.

Honest testimonials

Use the donor’s own words and real experience, and shorten only without changing the meaning. Federal Trade Commission guides on endorsements apply to advertising; even where they do not reach a nonprofit appeal, they describe the honest standard donors expect.

Sources

  1. Association of Fundraising Professionals and partners. The Donor Bill of Rights (afpglobal.org).
  2. Association of Fundraising Professionals. Code of Ethical Standards: donor privacy and accurate representation (afpglobal.org).
  3. Federal Trade Commission. Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, 16 CFR Part 255, revised 2023 (ftc.gov).
  4. Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Donor stewardship and recognition resources (case.org).

The worked example is made up. This organizer helps you keep the promises you made to donors; it is not legal advice. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.