Policy statement

Youth Action Now's vision, mission, values and practice are concerned with sustainability, collective nurturing and social justice. Therefore, we have the following guidelines for ethical gift solicitation and acceptance.

The purpose of the policy is to guide the Steering Group to ensure our fundraising practices and partnerships do not contradict our values. The policy also serves as information for donors interested in supporting the work of Youth Action Now.

The ethical criteria set out in these guidelines covers gifts, donations, partnerships, payments, revenue, grants and loans from individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations, unions and institutions (including the government).

We appreciate all offers of support, but we reserve the right to refuse or return donations where they contradict our values and this policy.

Policy

We will actively seek donations from sources that are involved with or committed to the following:

The empowerment and support of young people
Fair employment of young people
Ethical business structures (eg worker cooperatives)
Unionized workplaces
Sustainable transport
Renewable energy
Producing or supplying fairly traded goods
The repair, reuse and recycling of goods and materials
Promoting environmental, human and animal welfare
Retailing of sustainable and/or ethical goods
Ethical banking and investments
Free and open-source software

We will not seek nor accept donations from the following sources:

Fossil fuel industries
The military or arms trade
Sale of tobacco or tobacco products

In addition, we will not seek nor accept donations from sources substantially responsible for:

Environmental damage
Violations of human rights
Discrimination against individuals
Harm to children and young people

Furthermore, we will not accept donations from sources that:

Compromise Youth Action Now or its team’s integrity
Place restrictions on our activities
Cause damage to our organisational or individual reputations
Place additional costs or burdens on the organisation
Expose Youth Action Now and its team to uncertain risk or possible liability

The Steering Group is ultimately responsible for assessing whether a potential donor is associated with the above sectors or risks.

Commitment to donors

Youth Action Now is committed to the Donor Bill of Rights as laid out by the Canadian Association of Fundraising Professionals. *

All donors have these rights:

I. 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. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.

III. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.

IV. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.

V. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.

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

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

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

IX. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.

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