# US Supreme Court to define fraud in charity fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/11/08/us-supreme-court-define-fraud-charity-fundraising/
- Published: 2002-11-08T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Supreme Court in the USA is expected to issue a clarification of the definition
of fraud in charitable fundraising by professional fundraising companies.
The lack
of clarity has hindered attempts by US states to prosecute certain fraudulent fundraising
companies and those that appear to retain a very high percentage of funds raised
on behalf of charities. Until now these companies have successfully argued that 
charitable solicitation constitutes free speech and so is protected by the First
Amendment.

Eighteen states have backed the Illinois attorney general’s office in its appeal
to the Supreme Court saying that such problems are widespread.

Read “Court to Clarify Definition of Fraud in Charitable Fund-Raising” by Linda 
Greenhouse at the New York Times.

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