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

According to the charity’s corporate-gift acceptance policy, the IFPMA, as a body, “objects to parallel imports and compulsory licensing, supports uniformly high prices and sets a profit-driven research and development agenda — all of which counter the objectives of [our] campaign.”

But much like the first-time major donors who discovered MSF’s Web site, address or 800 number of their own accord, foundation and corporate supporters of nearly every stripe “came out of the woodwork” to help fund MSF’s South Asia project, says Surak, who’s been busy herself persuading tsunami supporters to de-restrict their gifts.