Code of Ethics
Affinity Resources LLC subscribes to the following statement,
adopted first in November 1991 by the NSFRE, the predecessor of
AFP.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) exists to foster
the development and growth of fund-raising professionals and the
profession, to promote high ethical standards in the fund-raising
profession and to preserve and enhance philanthropy and volunteerism.
Members of AFP are motivated by an inner drive to improve the quality
of life through the causes they serve. They serve the ideal of
philanthropy;
are committed to the preservation and enhancement of volunteerism;
and hold stewardship of these concepts as the overriding principle
of their professional life. They recognize their responsibility
to ensure that needed resources are vigorously and ethically sought
and that the intent of the donor is honestly fulfilled. To these
ends, AFP members embrace certain values that they strive to uphold
in performing their responsibilities for generating philanthropic
support.
AFP members aspire to:
- practice their profession with integrity, honesty, truthfulness
and adherence to the absolute obligation to safeguard the public
trust;
- act according to the highest standards and visions of their
organization, profession and conscience;
- put philanthropic mission above personal gain;
- inspire others through their own sense of dedication and high
purpose;
- improve their professional knowledge and skills in order that
their performance will better serve others; demonstrate concern
for the interests and well being of individuals affected by their
actions;
- value the privacy, freedom of choice and interests of all those
affected by their actions;
- foster cultural diversity and pluralistic values, and treat
all people with dignity and respect;
- affirm, through personal giving, a commitment to philanthropy
and its role in society;
adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws
and regulations;
- advocate within their organizations, adherence to all applicable
laws and regulations;
- avoid even the appearance of any criminal offense or professional
misconduct;
- bring credit to the fund-raising profession by their public
demeanor;
- encourage colleagues to embrace and practice these ethical
principles and standards of professional practice;
- and be aware of the codes of ethics promulgated by other professional
organizations that serve philanthropy.
Standards of Professional Practice
Adopted and incorporated into the AFP Code of Ethical Principles
November 1992
Furthermore, while striving to act according to the above values,
AFP members agree to abide by the AFP Standards of Professional
Practice, which are adopted and incorporated into the AFP Code of
Ethical Principles. Violation of the Standards may subject the member
to disciplinary sanctions, including expulsion, as provided in the
AFP Ethics Enforcement Procedures.
Professional Obligations
- Members shall not engage in activities that harm the member's
organization, clients, or profession.
- Members shall not engage in activities that conflict with their
fiduciary, ethical, and legal obligations to their organizations
and their clients.
- Members shall effectively disclose all potential and actual
conflicts of interest; such disclosure does not preclude or imply
ethical impropriety.
- Members shall not exploit any relationship with a donor, prospect,
volunteer or employee to the benefit of the member or the member's
organization.
- Members shall comply with all applicable local, state, provincial,
federal, civil and criminal laws.
- Members recognize their individual boundaries of competence
and are forthcoming and truthful about their professional experience
and qualifications.
Solicitation and Use of Charitable Funds
- Members shall take care to ensure that all solicitation materials
are accurate and correctly reflect the organization's mission
and use of solicited funds.
- Members shall take care to ensure that donors receive informed,
accurate and ethical advice about the value and tax implications
of potential gifts.
- Members shall take care to ensure that contributions are used
in accordance with donors' intentions.
- Members shall take care to ensure proper stewardship of charitable
contributions, including timely reports on the use and management
of funds.
- Members shall obtain explicit consent by the donor before altering
the conditions of a gift.
Presentation of Information
- Members shall not disclose privileged or confidential information
to unauthorized parties.
- Members shall adhere to the principle that all donor and prospect
information created by, or on behalf of, an organization is the
property of that organization and shall not be transferred or
utilized except on behalf of that organization.
- Members shall give donors the opportunity to have their names
removed from lists that are sold to, rented to, or exchanged with
other organizations.
- Members shall, when stating fund-raising results, use accurate
and consistent accounting methods that conform to the appropriate
guidelines adopted by the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (AICPA)* for the type of organization involved. (*
In countries outside of the United States, comparable authority
should be utilized.)
Compensation
- Members shall not accept compensation that is based on a percentage
of charitable contributions; nor shall they accept finder's fees.
- Members may accept performance-based compensation, such as
bonuses, provided such bonuses are in accord with prevailing practices
within the members' own organizations, and are not based on a
percentage of charitable contributions.
- Members shall not pay finder's fees, commissions or percentage
compensation based on charitable contributions and shall take
care to discourage their organizations from making such payments.
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