Membership is Minnesota Public Radio's single most important source of support, and MPR's relationship with its members is the highest expression of our mutual commitment to the MPR mission: to provide radio and related services that enrich the mind and nourish the spirit; enhancing lives, expanding perspectives, and strengthening communities.

To the extent that MPR is effective in raising funds by mail, it is able to limit the amount of time spent doing on-air fund-raising.

Providing Names of MPR Members to Other Organizations:
To assist in its mail-based fund-raising efforts, MPR regularly exchanges names and addresses of its members and former members with other organizations, principally in order to obtain names and addresses of other likely donors from these organizations. These organizations may solicit or otherwise contact MPR's members by mail.

List exchanges are made under strict rules that provide for one-time use, consist of name and address only, do not allow for further retention of the name, and allow for continued use only when the member responds to the contact. No other information is made available to third parties.

MPR does not rent or sell its member list for cash to any organization.

MPR does not share the telephone numbers or email addresses of its members or former members with other organizations. MPR uses the telephone numbers and email addresses of its members and former members only to communicate directly with them.

MPR will not exchange its member list with any political party or candidate for political office.

MPR members have the right not to have their names exchanged. Members who do not want their names exchanged may call Member/Listener Services at 651-290-1212 or 800-228-7123 and request "no exchange," or may indicate this preference in making membership commitments by mail, phone or Internet. Members may also email their preference to mail@mpr.org.

Using Names from Other Organizations:
Periodically, in order to build membership, MPR rents or purchases lists from other organizations to reach prospective members.

MPR will not rent or purchase lists from political parties or candidates for political office.

MPR will not rent lists from organizations where such an association may harm the goodwill and trust between MPR and its members.

Complying with Accepted Standards:
In list exchanges, as in other fund-raising practices, MPR complies with the laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, the Communications Act, the policies of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the laws of the State of Minnesota, and the regulations of the United States Postal Service.

MPR adheres to the ethical guidelines of the Direct Marketing Association, including their Privacy Promise to consumers, their Guides for Ethical Business Practice, and their Guidelines for List Practices.

MPR meets the accountability standards for the charitable sector as outlined by the Minnesota Charities Review Council.

(This statement was last updated August 4, 2000)