PHILANTHROPY is defined as accomplishing disinterested acts for the benefit of others. It inspires a tradition of donation and sharing which is essential to our quality of life. In order to ensure that philanthropy is merited and preserves the respect and confidence of the public at large and so that donors, present and future, will have the utmost confidence in non-profit organizations and the causes which they are asked to support, we declare that every donor has the following rights :
- To be informed of the organization's mission, the ways in which it will use the donations collected and its ability to effectively use those donations for the reasons they were collected.
- To be informed of the identity of the members of the Board of Directors of the organization and to expect that they use their best judgement and due diligence in the exercise of their responsibilities.
- To have access to the most recent financial statements of the organization.
- To receive assurances that the donations will be used in the manner for which they were collected.
- To receive appropriate thanks and acknowledgement.
- To receive assurances that his/her donations will be treated with the respect and confidentiality required by law.
- To expect that all relationships with the persons representing organizations be professional.
- To know whether those who request donations of him/her are volunteers, employees of the organization or canvassers under contract.
- To retain the possibility of removing his/her name from the mailing list that an organization may wish to share with others.
- To feel free to ask questions when a donation is made and to receive prompt and honest answers.
Designed by :
American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC)
Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
Adopted by (progressively) :
The private sector
National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC)
National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG)
Council for Resource Development (CRD)
United Way of America
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