Ethical Fundraising Practices
The success of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) in meeting the needs of global partners is heavily dependent on our ability to inspire confidence and trust in the hearts and minds of our donors. People make financial contributions to PWRDF for many reasons – their personal experience with PWRDF that connects them to grassroots organizations in the Global South around sustainable development and their trust in PWRDF as the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for international development and relief. Equally important in obtaining and retaining such financial support is PWRDF’s reputation for integrity and ethical fundraising practices.
Fundraising Practices
PWRDF by virtue of membership has adopted and abides by the fundraising practices and principles of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), Code of Ethics (16 p. brochure pdf version) and also abides by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (CCP), Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code (7 page document pdf version).
The two codes clearly put the onus on PWRDF to be open, honest and transparent in the raising, investment and disbursal of funds. The PWRDF Privacy Policy, approved by the PWRDF Board in 2004, supports these codes.
PWRDF Ethical Fundraising Practices
1. Fundraising in any form on behalf of PWRDF by its volunteers and staff will:
i) Be truthful;
ii) Accurately describe activities and events and the intended use of donated funds and;
iii) Respect the dignity and privacy of those who benefit from PWRDF activities;
2. Volunteers and staff who organize events or receive funds on behalf of PWRDF shall:
i) Adhere to the provisions of the CCIC Code of Ethics, the CCP Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code and PWRDF’s Privacy Policy;
ii) Act with fairness, integrity and in accordance with all applicable laws;
iii) Adhere to the provisions of applicable professional codes of ethics, standards or practice, etc.
iv) Disclose immediately to PWRDF any actual or apparent conflict of interest.
3. Fundraisers, whether staff or consultants, are compensated either by salary or fee for service and will not be paid finders’ fees, commissions or other payments based on either the number of gifts received or the value of the funds raised.
4. In all its fundraising activities, PWRDF shall ensure that:
i) Its donors are informed of PWRDF’s mission, of the way PWRDF intends to use donated resources, and of PWRDF’s capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes;
ii) PWRDF’s Board of Directors exercises prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;
iii) Its donors have access to PWRDF’s most recent audited financial statements and to a list of PWRDF’s current Board of Directors;
iv) Donations will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
v) Its donors receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition;
vi) Information about donors and donations shall be treated with respect and in accordance with the donor's wishes as well as relevant law;
vii) Its donors are informed whether those seeking donations for PWRDF are parish or diocesan volunteers or employees of PWRDF or General Synod representatives;
viii) Its donors are encouraged to ask questions when making a donation and that donors receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
5. PWRDF shall control all fundraising activities conducted on its behalf:
i) Major fundraising activities initiated by PWRDF are subject to the above fundraising practices;
ii) Independent fundraising activities organised by parishes and dioceses are to be in accordance with PWRDF’s ethical fundraising practices and are conducted with the consent of the parish priest and the diocesan bishop is informed.
