United Way Dixie
Ethics: Statement of Core Values

As board members of United Way Dixie, we affirm the following core values:

Integrity. Our organizations’ activities, services, and programs are consistent with our stated missions, compatible with our organizational capacity, respectful of the interests of our varied constituencies, and managed with the highest level of professionalism.

Respect and Dignity. We respect the dignity and autonomy of each person, and the integrity, privacy, pride, beliefs, and cultures of our varied constituencies – the people we serve, our employees, donors, volunteers, and others. Policies that govern our working relationships with these constituencies (e.g., client confidentiality, fair process) reflect this commitment.

Good Citizenship. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. We keep the broader interests of the community in mind even as we advance our own specific interests, and look for opportunities to become partners with those working in the private and public sectors. We value respectful, reasoned dialogue with one another when we disagree.

Care and Loyalty. As organizations we enable our individual board members to exercise their duties of care and loyalty. Individual board members are reasonably informed and participate in board decisions in good faith. They do not use their position for individual personal advantage.

Truth-telling and Openness. We provide truthful information about our missions, program activities, use of donations, and finances. We are accessible and responsive to members of the public who express an interest in the affairs of our organizations.

Accountability. The true measure of our success as nonprofits is whether individual lives – and our communities – change for the better as a result of our work. Being mission-focused, producing measurable outcomes, conducting program evaluations, and developing and maintaining sound financial management are important elements of our accountability.

Stewardship. We are able to accomplish our missions through the generosity of others. We respect donors’ intentions and restrictions on the use of their gifts, and promote responsible stewardship of the resources they entrust to us for the accomplishment of our work.

Excellence. We support and encourage visionary governance, exemplary management, excellent service and program delivery, and exceptional staff. We value and uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in all working relations.

I. Mission and Evaluation

1. Mission. Make local changes.

   1. The mission of United Way Dixie is developed, defined, and formally approved by the Board of Directors. Its activities and programs are consistent with its mission.

   2. United Way Dixie is always aware that its mission is accomplished through the generosity of others, and it owes its benefactors programs which are competently managed and needed.

   3. United Way Dixie furthers the best interests of the community and citizens through all of its activities and programs.

2. Evaluation.

   1. United Way Dixie periodically revisits its mission to determine if the need for its programs continues to exist, its mission needs to be modified, its programs should be revised or discontinued, or new programs are needed.

II. Governing Body

United Way Dixie is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors which represents, reflects, and actively engages the community it serves. The board determines the mission of the organization, establishes governing policies, and monitors the organization’s financial and programmatic performance.

III. Conflict of Interest

1. Members of the Board of Directors and staff act in the best interest of United Way, rather than on the basis of personal interests or the interests of third parties.

2. United Way Dixie has policies in place, and routinely and systematically uses these policies to prevent actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.

IV. Human Resources

1. Human Resource Policies. United Way Dixie has human resource policies in place that address both paid employees and volunteers. Such policies establish clear expectations and provide for meaningful and effective performance evaluation.

2. Diversity Policies and Practices. United Way Dixie embraces a philosophy that values diversity, which its Board and staff actively strive to ensure throughout the organization.

V. Financial and Legal Accountability

United Way Dixie practices sound financial management and complies with legal and regulatory requirements. Its financial systems ensure that accurate financial records are kept and that financial resources are used to further its mission and charitable purposes. It conducts periodic financial reviews to address regulatory and liability concerns.

1. Financial Accountability.

   1. United Way Dixie creates and maintains financial reports on a timely basis that accurately portray its financial status and activities.

   2. United Way Dixie provides timely internal financial statements to all trustees. Internal financial statements identify and explain any material variation between actual and budgeted revenues and expenses.

   3. United Way Dixie makes its annual financial reports available to the public.

   4. United Way Dixie provides employees and others with a confidential means to report suspected financial impropriety or misuse of its resources.

   5. United Way Dixie has written financial policies governing: (a) investment of its assets; (b) internal control procedures; (c) purchasing practices; and (d) reserve funds.

   6. Legal Compliance and Accountability. United Way Dixie is aware of and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This may include, but is not limited to: complying with laws and regulations related to fund raising; licensing; financial accountability; human resources; lobbying and political advocacy; and taxation.

VI. Openness

1. Upon request and periodically, United Way Dixie provides the public with truthful information about its mission, program activities, and finances.

2. United Way Dixie is accessible and responsive to members of the public who express interest in the affairs of the organization.

VII. Fund Raising

United Way Dixie must respect the interests and intentions of its donors, clients or patrons, and the general public and be managed with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. Unethical fund raising practices threaten public trust and confidence in the entire nonprofit sector.

1. Legal Compliance. United Way Dixie solicits donations from the public and is properly organized as a tax-exempt charity, and is in compliance with both the spirit and the letter of all local, state, and federal laws governing charitable solicitations.

2. Fund Raising Activities.

   1. United Way Dixie uses solicitation and promotional materials that are accurate and truthful and identify the organization, its mission, and its intended use of solicited funds.

   2. United Way Dixie does not engage in solicitation tactics that are coercive, intimidating, or deceptive.

   3. United Way Dixie respects the integrity, privacy, and pride of its clients. Specifically, it does not use clients, their pictures or their case histories in any publicity or fund raising activities without prior written consent.

3. Use of Gifts and Reporting.

   1. United Way Dixie insures that contributions are used in accordance with donors’ intentions and obtain explicit consent before altering the intended use of a restricted gift.

   2. United Way Dixie accurately records and receipts gifts and reports to donors and the public in a timely way on the use and management of contributed funds. Upon request, they shall provide information about their case for support, financial condition, use of donations, and fiscal responsibility, while respecting the privacy of donors.

   3. United Way Dixie encourages donors to obtain informed and ethical advice about the value and tax implications of potential gifts.

4. Fund Raising Management.

   1. United Way Dixie informs the board, staff and volunteers of ethical finance and fund raising practices and their importance to the integrity of United Way’s mission.

   2. United Way Dixie’s assumes responsibility for its own actions and the actions of all others, whether paid or unpaid, acting on their behalf.

   3. United Way Dixie’s fundraising costs are not excessive in relation to the costs of programs and activities directly related to its mission.

   4. United Way Dixie compensates development staff with a salary or fixed fee, and not by percentage-based compensation or a commission. It shall not pay any fee to a third party as a condition for the completion of a gift.

VIII. Public Policy Advocacy

1. Policies. United Way Dixie takes public policy positions, has written internal policies in place that define the process it uses to decide whether it should take a stand on specific public policy issues, and the public policy positions it takes.

2. Quality of Information. United Way Dixie provides only factually accurate information to the media and the public, and provides sufficient contextual information so its public information can be understood.

IX. Information Management

1. Structure. United Way Dixie has policies in place that identify who has access to certain information and security procedures in place to prevent unauthorized access.

2. Confidentiality of Information. United Way Dixie ensures that personal information on individual clients, employees and others is confidential unless permission to release information has been obtained.

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© United Way Dixie - January, 2005. All Rights Reserved.