# Today is National Day of Conversation: raising awareness of sexual harassment in sector

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/11/26/today-national-day-of-conversation-raising-awareness-sexual-harassment-sector/
- Published: 2020-11-26T08:10:36+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Today is the National Day of Conversation: a day of digital conversation to raise
awareness of sexual harassment of fundraisers in the charitable sectors.**

The [National Day of Conversation](https://www.dayofconversation.org/) (#NDOC) was
cofounded last year by Canadians Wanda Deschamps, Principal, Liberty Co, and Liz
LeClair, Director of Major Gifts, QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation. It is 
a digital day, run by [Fundraising Everywhere](https://fundraisingeverywhere.com/),
and is dedicated to the issue of sexual harassment in the charitable sector, and
what the sector can do to bring about positive change. This is its second year.

In the UK it starts at 2pm this afternoon (9am EST), on a pay what you can basis.
The event will include content for everyone from frontline fundraisers to managers,
and the board, with a focus on creating safe workspaces, preventing sexual harassment,
and how to support employees who report.

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Sessions run all day and include:

 * “Whatever it Takes”: Ohio State University research into the sexual exploitation
   of fundraisers
 * Dealing with inappropriate behaviour from donors and volunteers
 * Using restorative justice in the workplace
 * Safe workplaces
 * What it’s like to be a survivor of sexualised violence
 * Donor dominance: How donors exert influence on organisations.

The full schedule can be [seen here,](https://www.dayofconversation.org/schedule)
and the speakers [here](https://www.dayofconversation.org/speakers).

> Join Shanaaz Gokool on Nov 26 as she hosts Ohio State University researchers, 
> [@DrEEBeaton](https://twitter.com/DrEEBeaton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) and Dr. Megan
> LePere-Schloop of [@OhioState](https://twitter.com/OhioState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> for a discussion about their research on the [#sexualexploitation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sexualexploitation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> of fundraisers. 
> Register at [https://t.co/jtADN4Jm6h](https://t.co/jtADN4Jm6h)
> [pic.twitter.com/RlRyMjE4TQ](https://t.co/RlRyMjE4TQ)
> — nationaldayofconversation (@nationaldayofc1) [November 11, 2020](https://twitter.com/nationaldayofc1/status/1326663911949660160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

There are also lots of resources on the site, from shareable social media assets
to help with speaking to leadership to review organisational policies, procedures,
and support systems.

All content from the day will also remain online and accessible after the event.

 

According to a 2018 Harris Poll survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals(
AFP):

 * 25% of female fundraisers, and 7% of men, have experienced sexual harassment 
   in their work. 

 * In 65% of the cases reported in the survey, the perpetrator of the harassment
   was a donor.
 * 13% of those who reported experiencing harassment felt that their organisation
   placed a greater value on the loyalty of donors than the safety of its staff.