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 and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
1.
You have the right 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.
2.
You have the right 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.
3.
You have the right to have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
4.
You have the right to be assured your gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5.
You have the right to receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
6.
You have the right to be assured that information about your donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7.
You have the right to expect that all relationships with individuals representing the organization of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8.
You have the right to be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.
9.
You have the right to have your name deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10.
You have the right to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.
Policies and Financials
Conflict of Interest Policy: This Policy ensures that all decisions of the Board, Officers, and Employees of the Foundation are to be made solely on the basis of a desire to promote the best interests of the institution and the public good.
Confidentiality Policy: This Policy states that Board Members and employees of the Foundation may not disclose, divulge, or make accessible confidential information belonging to or obtained through their affiliation with the Foundation to any person, including relatives, friends, and business and professional associates, other than to persons who have legitimate need for such information and to whom the Foundation has authorized disclosure.
Donor Privacy Policy: At the Community Foundation, we maintain information on volunteers, donors, and potential donors for the purpose of keeping accurate financial records and providing information about the Community Foundation. We do not share information on donors or potential donors with anyone outside our organization without the permission of the donor.
Gift Acceptance Policy: These policies and guidelines govern acceptance of gifts made to or for the benefit of any of the Community Foundation funds or programs.
Investment and Spending Policy: The purpose of this Investment Policy Statement is to assist the Community Foundation Board of Directors in effectively supervising, monitoring, and evaluating the investment of the Foundation’s endowment assets.
Form 990 Request: The Community Foundation’s most recent 990 and audited financials are available online at GuideStar.com, at the Community Foundation office (505 West Third Street, Marion, IN 46952), or by contacting our Chief Financial Officer by calling our office directly at 765-662-0065.
Annual Report: CoFo Financial details can always be found in our most recent annual report.
Donor-Initiated Fundraising Procedures
Groups or individuals raising money for funds administered at the Community Foundation, should use the following documents to determine fundraising procedures.
Check Request from a Fund
– Two signatures are required. The signatures must match those provided on the Signature Sheet.
– Distributions may NOT be used to fulfill pledges or to secure benefits from the payee, such as membership dues.
– Distributions may NOT be made to individuals for reimbursements.
– Distributions for the purpose of reimbursements to organizations must include complete documentation, including invoices and/or receipts attached to this form.
– Distributions are generally processed on Thursdays. This form must be received in the Community Foundation office by 12:00 pm the day before processing. Occasionally, it is necessary to process distributions on a different day than Thursday. In the event of a time-sensitive distribution, you may call the Foundation office to determine when distributions will be processed on a week-to-week basis, and when the form must be received to be included in the process.
– No greater than twelve distributions shall be permitted, without charge, per fiscal year (July through June). Distributions in excess of twelve shall be subject to a $5 charge per check written.
Other Resources
GuideStar: The world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. It is a 501(c)(3) public charity that collects, organizes, and presents the information you want to know about a nonprofit in an easy-to-understand format while remaining neutral. The Community Foundation of Grant County has earned a Gold Star on GuideStar.
National Standards: Is a U.S. Community Foundations Accreditation Program that certifies U.S. community foundations that meet and exceed federal and state law requirements in practice and by policy. The accreditation process is rigorous, and undertaking it demonstrates a community foundation’s commitment to accountability and excellence to its donors, its community, policymakers, and the public.
Contact Us
