Though misunderstood at first, Doctors Without Borders’ bold decision to stop accepting tsunami-relief donation could help revive public trust in nonprofits.

By Paul Barbagallo

“We want to have a broad base of private support in the country,” Herman stresses, “because our programs are needs based, impartial and irrespective of religion, politics or race. And thus, we don’t want to be tied to any political agendas.”

In 2004, MSF direct mail donors who give less than $500 annually made an average donation of $56, slightly less than that of the previous year, when the same group contributed $59. The mid-level donor group — those individuals who typically give between $500 and $5,000 annually — made an average donation of $475, also less than that of 2003, when they gave $557.