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Ethical Fundraising Policy

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group

Introduction

  • The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group (SJEHG) provides eyecare in the Holy Land it is a charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales and a registered Amuta (Amuta is the Hebrew word for ‘non-profit’) in Israel. It runs several hospitals situated in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. The charity has a trustee body responsible for its governance and overall direction of the organisation, the day-to-day activity of the groups hospitals is run by the CEO and Senior Management Team, on their behalf. The organisation has a distinguished and hard-earned international reputation for the quality of its eye care and is well respected by the people who use its services.
  • To help guarantee the availability of ongoing support for its work, SJEHG positively welcomes support from many different sources across the world. It aims to maintain a broad base of funding and other support to achieve its humanitarian objectives. Having an Ethical Fundraising Policy enables a SJEHG to express its values and ethos. Donations to charities should be accepted or rejected for proper, defined reasons.
  • The law (Charities Act 1992) states that Trustees can refuse donations if they are not in the best interests of the charity to accept. In deciding whether to accept or refuse a particular donation, the law requires Trustees to carefully consider, based on relevant law (including anti-money laundering legislation) and the evidence available to them, which course of action will be in the SJEHG’s best interests. The law allows practical and ethical factors to be considered where they are relevant to the SJEHG’s charitable objects. In exercising this power, the Trustees must not allow personal views or prejudices to affect their conduct and decisions.
  • SJEHG, therefore, accepts financial support from, and works in partnership with individuals, companies and grant-making trusts on the following conditions:
    • There are grounds for believing this will result in a benefit to its SJEHG and its beneficiaries.
    • The SJEHG is satisfied that neither the independence nor the integrity of the SJEHG would be compromised by accepting such support.
    • The SJEHG is satisfied that any publicity that results from accepting such support will be beneficial to the SJEHG.
  • This policy sets out the legal and ethical criteria which must be considered when accepting or refusing donations and when deciding whether SJEHG should be involved in opportunities connected with accepting donations, grants, sponsorships or other partnerships.

All Support

The following principles apply to all types of support (including donations, grants, sponsorships, gifts of property, shares and other securities, pro bono work or other partnerships or arrangements).

SJEHG must refuse support where:

  • the gift derives from any illegal activities such as (but not limited to) tax evasion, fraud or money laundering and where it is otherwise required to do so by specific, prevailing legislation
  • the source of the gift, or its ethical origin is unclear, and/or could impact on the SJEHG’s reputation were it to be accepted, regardless of value.

SJEHG may refuse support where:

  • the gift comes from an individual or organisation which is in direct conflict with SJEHG’s vision, values or strategy;
  • it is believed that the cost to the SJEHG of accepting support will be greater than the value of the support itself;
  • the gift is deemed to come from a vulnerable person or a person in vulnerable circumstances;
  • the gift is made with the intention of influencing the SJEHG with an explicit or implicit exchange for favours or benefits;
  • the gift, through either its magnitude or nature, will unduly restrict the SJEHG’s ability to deliver or to be seen to deliver the full scope of its charitable endeavour;
  • it is considered that the opportunity may, in the opinion of SJEHG, bring them into disrepute or involve them in controversy or publicity which would do meaningful damage to SJEHG’s reputation and standing;
  • It is otherwise allowed to by specific prevailing or future legislation.

Affinity Marketing

  • Fundraising through commercial participation covers much corporate fundraising, sponsorship and other exchange of benefits. SJEHG is not obliged to enter into these arrangements but when it does care needs to be taken to ensure that deals of this kind do not damage the SJEHG’s reputation or are in some other way not in the best interests of SJEHG. SJEHG should not become involved with any person, organisation, business or cause which, in the opinion of the trustees, might bring the SJEHG into disrepute or involve SJEHG in controversy or publicity which would do damage to the SJEHG’s reputation and standing. At all times SJEHG must enter into a written agreement with all corporate partners. This agreement will set out clearly the nature of the partnership and the obligations of each party.

Due Diligence

  • A simple internet search will in most cases be sufficient to provide the information necessary to confirm whether an offer of support is likely to be accepted. Where there are potentially suspicious offers of support or where there are contentious issues associated with support the CEO should be informed and if necessary (in line with the sign off process below
  • The Fundraising Committee advises those with the authority to accept donations on behalf of the board and advises the board on Ethical Fundraising Policy.
  • The board delegates day to day decision making to the CEO, the Director of Development, the London Office Director, and the Director of Finance.