Philanthropy is based on voluntary
action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing
that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy
merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors
and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit
organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare
that all donors have these rights:
| I. |
To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the
way the organization intends to use donated resources, and
of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended
purposes. |
| II. |
To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s
governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent
judgment in its stewardship responsibilities. |
| III. |
To have access to the organization’s most recent financial
statements. |
| IV. |
To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for
which they were given. |
| V. |
To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition. |
| VI. |
To be assured that information about their donation is handled
with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided
by law. |
| VII. |
To expect that all relationships with individuals representing
organizations of interest to the donor will be professional
in nature. |
| VIII. |
To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers,
employees of the organization, or hired solicitors. |
| IX. |
To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from
mailing lists that an organization may intend to share. |
| X. |
To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and
to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers. |
