Donovan said he could not reveal the specific amount of the new-member rebates or any other financial arrangements because they are covered by a confidentiality requirement written into the contract at MBNA's request. I know MBNA will not be happy if it's released. They just reiterated that to me. Byrne is not the only person to have questioned the credit card promotion. If there isn't a disclosure, donors most often expect more is going to the charity than is actually the case.
Disclosure avoids potential misperception as to how much the organization has been helped.
Weiner said his organization urges nonprofit groups to avoid contracts that prohibit disclosure. Banks, including MBNA, will allow public disclosure of the terms of their affinity card contracts if the organizations involved insist on it, Weiner said. After asking the University of Hawaii for a copy of its affinity card contract with MBNA America Bank, Jahan Byrne has waited, and waited, and waited some more. Byrne's initial request was made in early 1999 and acknowledged by the university on March 5, 1999. On June 22, nearly four months later, Ruth Tsujimura, UH associate general counsel, asked Office of Information Practices Director Moya Gray for an opinion on whether UH must disclose the contract.