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Donor Expectations

Non-Profit Disclosure and Compliance

Non-profit organizations want to be accountable to those who support them. Such accountability should build trust and confidence in the hearts and minds of potential donors. This includes:

  • A clear and meaningful mission statement.
  • Strict confidentiality of all donor information.
  • Process to ensure timely acknowledgement for each charitable donation.
  • A consistent program to solicit and respond to donor feedback.
  • A clear list of board and committee members, with affiliations, either upon request or (preferably) through the non-profit’s website
  • Easy access to summary financial statements, including IRS Form 990, either upon request or (preferably) through the non-profit’s website.
  • Maintenance of an adequate financial accounting and reporting system.
  • Adherence to all local, state and national regulations.
  • An easily understood and accurate presentation regarding all aspects of a non-profit’s operations. This communication should be an ongoing.

Donors should feel encouraged to ask questions. Questions are always appropriate.

Gift Planning Process

If a donor chooses to work directly with a non-profit to establish a planned gift, the donor should expect the following:

  • A fundraising process that serves the best and balanced interests of the donor/non-profit partnership, with the legal, accounting and financial services community working in support of this objective.
  • A balanced presentation of planned gift options that utilizes the charitable bequest and beneficiary designations as a baseline for comparison. These represent the most common (and typically most appropriate) ways to make an estate gift.
  • Avoidance of the suggestion that a charitable gift will enhance a donor’s net financial position, either through tax deductions and/or increased income. While this can occur in very specific high-wealth situations, it does not apply for the vast majority of people.
  • A clear understanding of how each person in the conversation will be paid (e.g. by salary, commission or hourly rate).
  • Awareness of the ethical restrictions upon fundraisers being paid any commission for gifts they help secure. See Model Standards of Practice for more information.
  • Any presentation of a financial product should result from a comprehensive and objective analysis that specifically demonstrates how the donor’s and non-profit’s interests will be served. Any such presentation should also include a full disclosure of advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives, stated with equal emphasis.

Again, donors should feel encouraged to ask questions. Questions are always appropriate.

Click here to view our Partnership Agreement (74k PDF file).