Creating a Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising

1. Creating a Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising An update on the Process and the Lessons learned so far Siobhán McGee

2. What we did - how we went about the task • What we learned from the process • Some questions that arose in Code discussions • The breakout sessions – considering the Code today

3. First Step Establishing the Working Group

4. The Working Group Mark Mellett Focus Ireland Thora Mackey UNICEF Ireland Joan Ward Roscommon Home Services Catriona Hogan Cork Counselling Services Judy Dunne The Consumers Association Lillian Sullivan The Alzheimer’s Society, Limerick James Howe Concern Niamh Sheeran Fundraising consultant Liam Manning St Vincent de Paul, Dundalk Geraldine O’Sullivan Kerry Volunteer Centre

5. Considering Other Codes • Code of Conduct on Images and Messages, Dóchas • Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising, ISOBRO (Denmark) • Code of Conduct, Institute of Fundraising, (UK) • International Non Governmental Organisations’ Accountability Charter • A Donor Bill of Rights, American Association of Fundraising Counsel (US) • Guidelines and Implementing Instructions for nonprofit organisations soliciting donations (Germany) • Code of Practice, Irish Fundraising Forum for Direct Recruitment • ICFO International Standards, The International Committee on Fundraising Organizations • Code of Good Governance for Fundraising Charities, VFI (Holland)

6. Guidance on Regulation Regulating Better: A Government White Paper setting out six Principles of Better Regulation (2004) 1 Transparency 2 Accountability 3 Necessity 4 Proportionality 5 Consistency 6 Effectiveness www.betterregulation.ie

7. Accountability Is defined as ‘answering for one’s behaviour’ including to the public at large • Accountable to whom? To the public, whether donors or not • Accountable for what? For all fundraising carried out by charities • Accountable by what means? To be decided through the process of agreeing the Code

8. Transparency Transparency refers to ‘the provision of information about the organisation’s board, managers, employees, volunteers, and members’. Anheier, H.K., Nonprofit Organisations; theory, management,policy (2005) Routledge, New York.

9. What we Learned Engaging smaller organisations Reflecting the public, or an Independent, view Resources – time and experience

10. Some Discussion Points • Shorter or Longer? • Meeting the needs of smaller organisations • How much to reveal • Not creating a burden • How will compliance be monitored and dealt with – what ‘teeth’ will the Statement have? • What would help me in my role?

11. The 5 Recommendations of the Working Group 1. Agreeing the criteria for ‘success’ 2. Establishing modalities for key relationships (the Regulator, the charities’ fundraising sector, individual charities, the Monitoring Group and the public)

12. The 5 Recommendations of the Working Group 3. Establishing and resourcing the Monitoring Group 4. Information and training to support charities 5. Establishing a process for updating this and agreeing new Codes

13. Meeting the Standards Six Principles of Better Regulation: 1 Transparency 2 Accountability 3 Necessity 4 Proportionality 5 Consistency 6 Effectiveness

14. The Statement • Introduction – • Complements existing legal framework • Goes further, principles and guidance • To be of practical use • To build capacity in the charities’ fundraising sector • Dialogue with regulator • New Codes • To be updated

15. Who this Statement is for • Fundraising Practitioners • Charity boards and senior management • Charity donors or prospective donors

16. Core Principles • Respect • Honesty • Openness

17. Commitment to Donors • Use of donations • Disclosure • Organisational Independence • Third Party fundraising • Volunteers • Complaints and feedback procedure • Financial controls • Human resources • Equality • Appointment of External Auditor

18. The Conduct of Fundraisers • Behaviour and responsibilities • Know and follow the legal requirements • Responsibilities of Fundraising Management

19. Board and Trustee Responsibility • Have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the charity is able to and does fulfil its commitment to best practice in fundraising • Fundraising exists only to support the overall mission of the charity – therefore the management of the wider organisation is also of interest to donors (as well as clients, beneficiaries, service users, volunteers staff etc)

20. Honest Communication • Language • Representation • Omission • Images and Messages

21. Financial Accountability • Goes to the heart of transparency and accountability and is of public interest. • Will be covered by regulation – but not yet • SORP and Company law

22. Monitoring and Compliance • Establish a Monitoring Group • When a Regulator is in place? To be continued………..

23. What happens next • Breakout groups • Facilitators/Scribes/Rapportuer -Rooms • 3. Reconvene Closing Date: 16th November 2007

24. Breakout Groups – location • Pale Green Badge – O’Connell Suite Room 1 • Dark Green Badge – O’Connell Suite Room 2 • Red Badge – O’Connell Suite Room 3 • Blue Badge – O’Connell Suite Room 4 • Orange Badge – Stay here!