2. Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups Implementing the Guiding Principles for Fundraising Sheila Nordon Executive Director 9 th November 2010

3. TODAY’S WEBINAR Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising -Why charities should follow the principles -Context and background Web Resources -Practical help in implementing the Guiding Principles for Fundraising -Good Practice Factsheets Your Questions answered

4. Why charities should apply the principles Public Trust and Confidence Demonstrate that charities operate to high standards International best practice You are doing most of it anyway – let the public know!

5. CONTEXT – WHY GUIDING PRINCIPLES WERE DEVELOPED? The Charities Act 2009 provides: All types of public fundraising to require permits New Charity Regulator to be appointed Annual charity reporting to include fundraising The practices and procedures used by charities for fundraising will be regulated by agreed Codes of Practice to be developed with the charities sector Reserved power for the Minister

6. Brief Background Who developed the principles? How were they developed? How are they being implemented? This initiative is funded by the Charities Regulation Unit of the Dept. Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs

7. Is the Statement the same as Code of Practice? Not a detailed code – more a set of overarching principles and guidelines for fundraising in Ireland On the website = links to various codes

8. WHAT THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES SAY: Who the statement of guiding principles is for? Core principles Commitment to Donors – Donors Charter The Conduct of Fundraisers Responsibilities of Board/Trustees/Senior Management Honest Communication Financial Accountability Monitoring and Compliance

9. Core Principles Respect Honesty Openness

10. Web Resources designed to help you Samples/Drafts provided of: Donors’ Charter Feedback and Complaints Procedure Public Statement(s) Disclosure Statement(s) Public Compliance Statement FAQs Donors Fundraisers Compliance Checklist

11. Commitment to Donors Donors’ Charter standards that donors or prospective donors can expect expand and go further as befits your organisation’s mission assurance - gifts used for purpose for which given donors informed of status of fundraiser - employee/volunteer/third party agent respect for donor’s wishes – names deleted from mailing lists/databases etc as requested easily accessible Website Brochures etc.

12. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE Establish a complaints procedure Specify clearly all available channels of redress Making a complaint should be as easy as possible Deal with it quickly and politely Respond accordingly Learn from complaints

13. COMPLAINT PROCEDURE All complaints referred directly to the charity in the first instance What if the complaint is not resolved? Role of the Monitoring Group

14. Public Statement Public should be made aware that your organisation is complying with the statement This can be done by making a statement to that effect on your... audited accounts/ annual report/ website/ brochures etc. Your organisations statement can outline its commitment to the statement of guiding principles....

15. Disclosure Statement: Pg 15 of the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising: “Donors have the right to be informed of the status and authority of those soliciting donations; for example: donors will be informed if fundraisers are employees of the organisation or third party agents”

16. Public Compliance Statement Further distillation of Statement Comprehensive public facing declaration of compliance Suited to Annual Reports and websites

17. When Does Adherence Commence? NOW! No time to lose Board of your charity formally commit that the organisation will comply with the statement Agree an implementation schedule Plan to report on compliance annually (Comply or explain principle) Checklist - further information on how to do this/ plan for it Monitoring process to start end 2010/early 2011

18. We are not a charity, does the statement apply to us? No obligation if not a charity Can be voluntarily applied if an organisation so wishes = high levels of accountability / transparency

19. Compliance Checklist Overarching document to assist charities compliance with the Statement – Appoint person(s) to ensure implementation – Signed off annually – File together with supporting documentation – Report on compliance in Annual Report (Public Checklist)

20. What happens if a charity doesn’t comply with the Statement? Annual report must include a record of fundraising activity and application of statement Monitoring group will assess application of statement If non adherence is found – appropriate action will be taken

21. Good Practice Factsheets – coming shortly! Handling Cash and Postal donations Garda Permits Insurance Raffles and Lotteries Data Protection Guidelines on pre-signed Mass Cards

22. The benefits of implementing the Guidelines More public trust + Greater Accountability + Enhanced reputation + Greater recognition = More Funds!

23. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED WWW.ICTR.IE