Donor Bill of Rights

At the heart of philanthropy is the voluntary action for the common good. Our communities thrive from the generous tradition of giving and sharing with the genuine intention to enhance quality of life. Because of this, we are committed to granting donors certain rights in the causes they support so we have their full confidence in their gift, and peace of mind in their legacy.

1. To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way it intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively.
2. 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.
3. To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when donating, and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.