Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) will engage in fundraising, investment and granting practices that inspire confidence and trust, and demonstrate integrity, transparency, accountability and high ethical standards for philanthropy.

ECF also abides by the Donor Bill of Rights (see bottom of page).

Definitions:

1) In this Policy:

• “Charter” means the Edmonton Community Foundation Act together with the by-laws, policies, and procedures of ECF as they exist from time to time;
• “Person acting on behalf of ECF” or “person seeking or receiving funds on behalf of ECF” includes a volunteer, employee, or contracted third party; and
• “Planned Gift” means a gift that enables donors to make larger gifts than they could make from their income and as such describes any major gift, made in lifetime or at death, as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning.

Practices:

1) ECF honours donors’ and prospective donors’ requests to:

• Limit the frequency of contact;
• Not be contacted by telephone or other technology;
• Receive printed material concerning the organization; and
• Discontinue contact.

2) ECF does not sell, rent, exchange, or otherwise share its donor list.

3) ECF honours donors’ requests to remain anonymous.

4) ECF encourages donors to seek independent advice regarding gifts described as Planned Gifts and/or gifts that may significantly affect the donor’s particular circumstances (including but not limited to financial, taxation, or family matters)

5) ECF will issue appropriate receipts for all gifts made, in compliance with all regulatory requirements affecting ECF (such as, but not limited to, the Income Tax Act, Canada).

6) Any person seeking or receiving funds on behalf of ECF must:

• Act with fairness, integrity, and in accordance with all applicable laws;
• Cease contacting a prospective donor who states that s/he does not wish to be contacted;
• Disclose immediately to ECF any actual or apparent conflict of interest or loyalty;
• Not accept donations for purposes that do not comply with ECF’s Charter;
• Identify his or her affiliation to ECF (e.g. staff, volunteer, contracted third party); and
• Secure and safeguard any confidential information, including credit card information, provided to them by donors.

7) Any person acting on behalf of ECF must not make claims that cannot be upheld or are misleading.

8) All fundraising solicitations by a person acting on behalf of ECF must:

• Be truthful;
• Accurately describe ECF’s activities;
• Disclose ECF’s name;
• Disclose the purpose for which funds are requested;
• Disclose, upon request, whether the individual or entity soliciting donations is a volunteer, employee, or contracted third party; and
• Identify the circumstances in which ECF will issue official donation receipts.

9) Any fundraising materials distributed by or on behalf of ECF must include its address or other contact information.

10) ECF does not exploit its beneficiaries. Those acting on behalf of ECF will be sensitive in describing those ECF serves and fairly represent their needs and how these needs will be addressed.

11) ECF does not, directly or indirectly, pay finder’s fees, commissions, or percentage compensation based on contributions.

12) ECF respects the privacy of donors. Donor records are kept confidential. Donors have the right to see their own donor record and challenge its accuracy. Please see ECF’s Privacy Policy for detailed information on the protection of donor information.

13) To demonstrate transparency and accountability, ECF posts a variety of information about the organization on our website, including: our financial statements, Registered Charity Information Return (T3010), lists of members of our Board of Directors, stakeholder complaints policy, privacy policy, investment policy, magazines, and other related material.

14) ECF provides, upon request, current available information on its gross revenue, net proceeds, and costs of any fundraising activity.

15) Those acting on behalf of ECF will not act in the following roles for donors, unless such donor is personally connected to the staff member in a role other than as a donor such as, but not limited to, a family member or a personal friend or client (in the case of a professional advisor, in which case, the person acting on behalf of ECF will report the relationship and disclose the potential conflict of interest to the CEO:

• Executor/Personal representative under the Donor’s will
• Trustee of any trusts established by the Donor
• Attorney under the Donor’s Enduring Power of Attorney
• Agent under the Donor’s Personal Directive

A Donor Bill of Rights

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 assure 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:

1. 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.
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 donations 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 expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
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 making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

The Edmonton Community Foundation endorses the text of this statement in its entirety as developed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and National Society of Fund Raising Executives.