2017 Delaware Code
Title 6 - Commerce and Trade
CHAPTER 25. PROHIBITED TRADE PRACTICES
Subchapter X Charitable/Fraternal Solicitation
§ 2595. Unlawful practices.

(a) The act, use or employment by any person of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation or the concealment, suppression or omission of any material fact with the intent that others rely upon such concealment, suppression or omission in connection with a charitable solicitation, whether or not any person has in fact been misled, deceived or damaged thereby.

(b) Such acts or practices shall include, but are not limited to, any 1 of the following:

(1) The failure of any person to identify himself or herself by name prior to making a charitable solicitation;

(2) The failure of a person to identify the charitable/fraternal organization for which the charitable/fraternal solicitation is being made or the charitable/fraternal purpose of the solicitation prior to making the solicitation;

(3) If the solicitation is made by a professional solicitor, the failure to disclose that the person soliciting the contribution is, or is employed by, a professional solicitor and the identity of the professional solicitor;

(4) Upon request by the person being solicited, the failure of any person to disclose the amount/percentage of the contribution that will be turned over to the charitable/fraternal organization, the amount/percentage of the contribution to be used for the charitable/fraternal purposes for which it is being solicited or the amount/percentage to be retained by the professional solicitor. To the extent the amount/percentage of the contribution to be turned over to the charitable/fraternal organization is not known at the time of the solicitation, the person shall disclose a good faith estimate of the percentage/amount of the contribution to be turned over to the charitable/fraternal organization;

(5) The use or reference to the term "police,'' "law enforcement,'' "trooper,'' "rescue squad,'' "firemen'' or "firefighter'' unless:

a. The person making such representations is employed by a bona fide police, law enforcement, rescue squad or fire department and the person is authorized by such entity to engage in charitable solicitation; or

b. Such entity has authorized the use or reference to such term in writing for the purpose of charitable/fraternal solicitation;

(6) The representation that a percentage of the contribution will be used for a charitable/fraternal purpose if the person has reason to believe the contribution will not be used for a charitable/fraternal purpose;

(7) The representation that another person, as defined by § 2593(5) of this title, endorses the solicitation unless such person has consented in writing to the use of the person's name for the purpose of endorsing the solicitation;

(8) The representation that the contribution is solicited on behalf of anyone other than the charitable/fraternal organization that authorized the solicitation in accordance with this subchapter;

(9) The use of the name of any charitable/fraternal organization without the written consent of the charitable/fraternal organization;

(10) The use of a name, symbol or statement so closely related or similar to that used by another charitable/fraternal organization or governmental agency that the use thereof would tend to confuse or mislead the public;

(11) The failure to create and/or maintain the records and written contracts as required by § 2594 of this title with the intent to hinder the discovery of practices otherwise prohibited by this subchapter or having otherwise been in violation of this subsection; and

(12) The failure to comply with § 2596 of this title on 3 separate occasions.

(c) No charitable/fraternal organization or any officer, director, member, volunteer or employee of a charitable/fraternal organization shall be deemed in violation of this section for an unlawful practice committed by a professional solicitor unless the charitable/fraternal organization or such officer, director, member, volunteer or employee has actual prior knowledge of such unlawful practice or the charitable/fraternal organization or such officer, director, member, volunteer or employee had fraudulent intent in connection with the unlawful practice.

70 Del. Laws, c. 584, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;