Is it legal to ask for private donations through the mail?

[ForKeeps]

Private meaning, not a non profit. For example, if a person becomes ill and needs money for medical costs. Along those lines. Not an actual charity, but charity-like in nature.

 

[tranquility]

As long as they tell the truth.

 

[BOR]

If I remember correctly forkeeps, I read a US SC case once that dealt with such fundraising issues, live though, not by mail.

The SC upheld it as a 1st AM right!

As long as the money is used for the announced purposes, there is not fraud, etc.

My research if I was recall was based on a case where a person put on his web site that he would eat his rabbit if X $$ were not collected by a certain date.

I did some research on fundraising, and I remember the 1st AM issue.

 

[tranquility]

If it isn't legal, most every college student has been a criminal. (Although it's probably more electronic today, I would say those over a certain age who has not written home with a "please mom, send money" is quite unusual.)

 

[ForKeeps]

If I remember correctly forkeeps, I read a US SC case once that dealt with such fundraising issues, live though, not by mail.

The SC upheld it as a 1st AM right!

As long as the money is used for the announced purposes, there is not fraud, etc.

My research if I was recall was based on a case where a person put on his web site that he would eat his rabbit if X $$ were not collected by a certain date.

I did some research on fundraising, and I remember the 1st AM issue.

So the guy got in trouble, and had to take it to the supreme court? Sounds like fun. What do you mean by live?

 

[BOR]

I don't remember the specifics of the case, but for the SC to entertain a case, there MUST be a federal element, here, it was the 1st AM.

I think it had to do with some kind of tax being levied on the fundraiser or such??


By LIVE, I mean such as a band playing at a club or such, not by mail.

 

[AlmostALawyer]

I would also add that candidates for political office are always asking for donations via the mail, in person, at church, on tv, on the phone, at dinner, in my sleep.....

 

[Hot Topic]

And we have a lot of people in our area asking for "donations." They're usually called "homeless."