I. Personal and Professional Integrity

Our board members, staff, and volunteers act with honesty, integrity, and transparency in all our dealings with each other and as representatives of the corporation. We promote a working environment that values respect, fairness, integrity, and collaboration.

II. Support of Purpose, Mission, and Vision

We have a clearly stated purpose, mission, and vision—approved by the board of directors—in pursuit of the public good. All of our programs support such purpose, mission, and vision; all who work for or on behalf of us understands and are loyal to this purpose, mission, and vision. The purpose, mission, and vision are responsive to the constituency and communities served by us and are of value to society at large.

III. Governance and Accountability

We have an active board of directors that is responsible for setting the purpose, mission, vision, and strategic direction of the corporation and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the corporation. The board of directors:

• exercises reasonable care, good faith, loyalty and due diligence in corporal affairs;

• has a conflict-of-interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof are avoided or appropriately managed for the protection and benefit of the corporation;

• ensures that the corporation conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;

• ensures that the corporation promotes working relationships with board members, staff, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness, and openness;

• ensures that the corporation is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all board members, staff, and volunteer positions;

• ensures that the resources of the corporation are responsibly and prudently managed; and,

• ensures that the corporation has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively and efficiently.

IV. Legal Compliance

We are knowledgeable of and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and international conventions.

V. Financial Stewardship

We manage our funds responsibly and prudently. This includes the following considerations:

• spends a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuit of its mission;

• spends an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional management;

• compensates staff, and any others who may receive compensation, reasonably and appropriately;

• has reasonable fundraising costs, recognizing the variety of factors that affect such costs;

• ensures that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable, and appropriate to fulfill the mission and the vision of the corporation; and,

• ensures that financial reports are complete and accurate in all material respects.

VI. Transparency and Disclosure

We provide comprehensive and timely information to the public and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about the corporation will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the corporation. Basic informational data about the corporation, such as the IRS Form 990, reviews and compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on our website or otherwise made available to the public. All financial, corporate, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects.

VII. Program Assessment and Evaluation

We regularly review program effectiveness and have mechanisms to incorporate lessons learned into future programs. We are committed to improving program and ministry effectiveness and develop mechanisms to promote learning from its activities in the field. We are responsive to changes in its field of activity and is responsive to the needs of its constituencies.

VIII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

We have a policy of promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our board, staff, and volunteers to enrich ministry programmatic effectiveness. We take meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness and diversity in hiring, retention, promotion, board recruitment, and constituencies served.

IX. Fundraising

In raising funds from the public, we respect the rights of donors, as follows:

• to be informed of the purpose, mission, vision, and strategic direction of the corporation, the way the resources will be used, and its capacity to use donations effectively and efficiently for their intended purposes;

• to be informed of the identity of those serving on the corporation’s board of directors and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;

• to have access to the corporation’s most recent financial reports;

• to be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given;

• to receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;

• to be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the law;

• to expect that all interactions with individuals representing the corporation will be professional in nature;

• to have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that the corporation may intend to share; and

• to feel free to ask questions when donating and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.