Acceptance of donation policy

This policy is a public guide to how Re-engage makes decisions on accepting and refusing donations and gifts of all kinds and from all donors.

We have aligned our policy to the Institute of Fundraising’s guidance on “Acceptance, refusal, and return: a practical guide to dealing with donations” which forms part of the advice of the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice. The policy has been developed in accordance with guidance from the Charity Commission and the Scottish Charity Regulator.

We have put in place procedures to ensure that decisions are not taken on an ad-hoc basis but are in support of Re-engage’s strategy and objectives and aligned to our values.

This policy has been designed to provide clear and objective standards against which Re-engage’s actions can be judged in cases of potential or actual dispute in order to protect Re-engage’s reputation against adverse public reaction.

Trustees’ obligations

The Trustees take overall legal responsibility for decisions relating to whether a donation is accepted or refused and must always be able to demonstrate that they have acted in the best interest of Re-engage. They have a duty to consider carefully, based on the evidence made available to them, whether Re-engage’s interests will be better served by accepting or refusing the donation and to act accordingly.

These judgments must not promote any Trustee or employee’s personal moral agenda or interest and must be directly related to the interests of Re-engage. Trustees must derive no personal benefit (individually or collectively) from donations, loans or other material support offered to Re-engage. 

Procedures

The Board of Trustees delegates the responsibility for day to day decisions regarding donations to Re-engage’s CEO, assisted by the Strategic Leadership Team.

The director of fundraising and communications is responsible for ensuring that donors are supporting Re-engage in accordance with this policy.  If any element of the policy is contravened, the CEO will consider the acceptance or refusal of donations and will ensure that the Board of Trustees is informed of any decisions which could raise questions.

Guiding principles

In order to establish whether donations or categories of donation are in the best interest of Re-engage, they will be evaluated against these factors:

• The donation should contribute towards Re-engage’s overall strategy and plans. Our REACH 2020-23 strategic plan has five goals:

1. Reducing loneliness and social isolation by reaching more, and more diverse, older people.
2. Empowering our volunteers and staff to help us in this.
3. Amplifying voices of older people by creating programmes and projects with them.
4. Challenging ageism by bringing generations together.
5. Harnessing technology to reach more older people and to empower our volunteers.

• Re-engage should be able to successfully deliver any agreed activity and advance its mission and strategic direction under the conditions tied to any donation.
• The donor’s objectives or activities must not appear to be incompatible with Re-engage’s vision, mission and values. 

Re-engage will refuse donations:

• From companies or individuals whose wealth is known to result from illegal activities or where there are indications of corruption and related economic crime.
• From individuals who are vulnerable and may have been subject to coercion.
• Where the activities of a donor are directly contrary to the objectives or agreed policies of Re-engage.
• Where Re-engage suspects that the gift has been donated to facilitate money laundering or other criminal activity.
• Where it can be clearly shown that the cost to Re-engage of accepting a donation will be greater than the value of the donation itself, including the cost of reporting on grant-funded activities that are not part of the charity’s strategy.
• Where the support, whilst reflecting Re-engage’s objectives, is:
  • untenable (for example, if Re-engage does not have the resources to maintain the running costs associated with the donation.)
  •  consists of goods, services or property which Re-engage cannot lawfully use, convert, exchange or sell in direct support of its charitable objectives.
  • dependent upon the fulfilment of certain conditions and those conditions are contrary to the objectives of Re-engage; require unreasonable levels of support from Re-engage; or will divert Re-engage and its staff from pursuing its current objectives, policies, or work priorities.

In the event that Re-engage decides not to accept a donation, we will record both the decision and the reason.