Date

Dear City Manager/City Attorney:

I am writing to inform you of the recent enactment of AB 918 (2010 – copy attached), which authorizes a local jurisdiction to prohibit the placement, use, or employment of a collection box for charitable solicitation purposes, if the box does not adhere to certain disclosure requirements. This law will help promote your community’s health, safety, and welfare by regulating unattended collection boxes to minimize their potential negative impacts, such as illegal dumping or improper maintenance. We urge you to act if illegal donation boxes are placed in your City without appropriate signage.

Below, we have outlined the display requirements of AB 918, as well as the particular elements that must be included on donation boxes for both nonprofit and for-profit entities owners of the boxes.

AB 918 requires all donation boxes to clearly display on their exterior the following information:

  1. Name of organization that owns the collection box
  2. Address of the organization
  3. Telephone number of the organization
  4. Website address of the organization
  5. A statement in at least two-inch typeface that states whether the box is owned and operated by a non-profit organization or a for-profit organization.
  6. If the collection box is owned by a nonprofit organization, the front of the collection box shall also conspicuously display a statement describing the charitable cause that will benefit from the donations.
  7. If the collection box is owned by a for-profit entity, the front of the collection box shall also conspicuously display a statement that reads “this donation is not tax deductible.”
  8. If the collection box is owned and operated by a commercial fundraiser, they are deemed to be a for-profit entity. The commercial fundraiser may post notice of donations to a charitable cause only on the sides of the box. This notice shall always be smaller in size than the for-profit entity’s name and address and shall constitute only 25 percent of the notice space of the box.

Please be aware that regardless of the enactment of AB 918, a local jurisdiction still retains the ability to pass its own ordinances or regulations regarding collection boxes that go beyond the provisions identified above. For example, some municipalities are considering a local regulation requiring a per box permit fee from box owners.

The mission of Goodwill Industries as a non-profit entity is to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by eliminating barriers to employment and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work. Our network of 165 independent, community-based Goodwills in the United States and Canada, including 14 operating in California, offer customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.

Our reason for supporting AB 918 is to ensure that donors are informed of what happens to their charitable personal property donations, so Goodwill may compete equitably with other charities or for-profit entities across the state soliciting these donations. In addition, as members of the community, we believe it is important that unattended donation boxes be sited and maintained properly.

We look forward to working with you to ensure the successful implementation of AB 918. Please contact me at ______if you have any questions or we can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,