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 they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

I. Mission

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. Gift Purpose

To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given and in a timely manner.

III. Endowments

To receive an annual report for endowed gifts illustrating market performance, recipient information (if applicable), and other financial expenditures.

IV. Recipients

To receive correspondence from an endowment recipient and to be informed if no recipient is selected.

V. Recognition

To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.

VI. Solicitation

To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.

VII. Privacy

To have the opportunity for their names to be removed from communication lists.

VIII. Conduct

To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.

IX. Confidentiality

To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.

X. Transparency

To ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.