appealing believers for funds is entirely permissible

Question: We are very upset by the letter written by Dorothy Nelson to each believer in our community concerning the Fund. We believe her letter violates one of the primary principles of the Bahá’í Faith concerning coercion and individual solicitation of funds. Our interpretation of the Writings, as quoted in Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, pp. 137–138, is that they prohibit this sort of thing from happening in the Faith. We feel that her letter returns the Bahá’í Faith to the realm of the old world order.

Answer: The National Spiritual Assembly consulted on the matter before arriving at the decision to present an appeal to every believer in the American Bahá’í community.

There is a clear distinction between solicitation of funds from certain members of a community and a general appeal addressed to the entire body of believers and sent to every individual in the community. An example of the former would be a letter to individuals who have not been contributing to the Fund, reminding them of their responsibility to do so. Such a singling out of specific individuals is clearly a violation of Bahá’í principle.

The latter method, however, is entirely permissible and, indeed, “welcome under all circumstances” as long as the appeal is “of a general character, carefully worded and moving and dignified in tone,” leaving “entirely to the discretion of every conscientious believer” decisions about “the nature, the amount, the purpose of his or her contribution.” (Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, pp. 137–138)

This same method of addressing the believers was used by the Universal House of Justice when a crisis in our National Fund precipitated a similar crisis in the Bahá’í International Fund. On December 29, 1970, two letters were sent to every believer in America. They may be found on pp. 57–61 of Messages From the Universal House of Justice, 1968–1973.

We fully support your concern that an “old world” tactic not be employed. This is foremost in our minds as we work to develop an appreciation for the truly unique Institution of the Bahá’í Fund.

It is our bounden duty, however, to ensure that every believer in the American Bahá’í community is well informed of the financial status of the National Fund, “the bedrock upon which all the activities of the Cause ultimately rest,” and toward which “every Bahá’í, no matter how poor, must realize what a grave responsibility he has to shoulder.” (Shoghi Effendi in a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, July 17, 1937)

Our responsibility to educate the believers about this vital Institution of the Faith is incomplete until the goal of universal participation is realized. Toward this end we are earnestly striving.

We are extremely grateful for your vigilance in guarding the principles of the Fund from the corrupting influences of fundraising methods used in the outside world. We are confident that in this instance no principle has been violated.

(The American Bahá’í, October, 1977)

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