Sounds like a donor I know! I think all of us have faced this situation in similar circumstances and smaller ones. It's a sticky situation that sometimes gets better response from a board member, specifically, your board legal counsel or treasurer. They are used to collecting money and sometimes when the donor knows other professional people are aware of the situation, they write the check and do what is right! Our organization has taken a serious look at third party events and instituted a process that makes an organization, company, or individual who wants to raise money on our behalf complete a form and their potential project has to have approval from our Fund Development Committee. We do it via email so we can guarantee a rapid answer for the individual, but we have found that many people call us with these ideas but won't follow through on the paperwork, which, we feel, is a strong indicator they may not follow the guidelines needed for prudent fundraising on our behalf. The form also gives a timeframe in which funds are expected to be given to the charity which sets an expectation. Relationships with donors are so important, but as Terry Axelrod says, sometimes you have to "bless and release them!" I think public perception of the organization's fund raising principles is so vital to future efforts but I also think it is hard as an executive director to know which event might turn into a homerun for the agency and which is a strike out. Hope this helps! JK

Since they don't have copies of the photos, I am guessing the photos of the gift never made it to the newspaper. If money was raised for the benefit of a nonprofit and people gave based on that, then there is an issue of fraud. If he never made statements to people that money was going to be given to a non-profit for their participation in the event, then you don't have any legal standing, just a guy who used the money elsewhere and now can't make good on his promise. I've never had a situation like this, but the primary issue is whether a crime was committed by taking funds under false pretenses. Boy, the problems non-profits have to deal with! LR

The cardboard checks are only for ceremonies! I've always received the real check before the ceremony otherwise I don't go through with the ceremony or the real check is given at the ceremony. Naturally, there can be exceptions such as nationally known companies where there exists a strong element of trust. Also, depending on the business, there may be some recourse through corporate headquarters. There's BBB reporting as well plus follow-up with others attending the event that might have stronger contacts with the business owner. Additionally, publicize your experience. MM

We have had this happen to us on several occasions. Very frustrating!. In one instance we finally got our money, but the other times it never came through. Have they thought about having a board member call and speak to this business person or a couple of board members requesting a meeting with him? That might be a different approach that could get some action, especially since they had a very public check presentation. JB