# International NGOs sign new code of conduct

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/08/21/international-ngos-sign-new-code-conduct/
- Published: 2006-08-21T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Eleven international NGOs have signed an ‘accountability charter’ governing their
behaviour that includes a section on ethical fundraising.
The 11 organisations, 
which include ActionAid International, Amnesty International, International Save
the Children Alliance and Greenpeace International, have publicly endorsed the first
global accountability charter for the non-profit sector, although individual countries
or organisations have their own charter, such as the Institute of Fundraising’s 
Donors’ Charter in the UK (which is currently under review).

The charter seeks to demonstrate transparency and accountability and that NGOs deeply
value public trust, do not take it for granted and are committed to sustaining and
deepening that trust and sets out core values and operating principles for international
NGOs. The signatories to the charter say they are not reacting to outside pressure.

Its Ethical Fundraising section covers donors, use of donations, gifts in kind and
agents. It promises to inform donors about causes, about how their donation is being
used, about the status and authority of fundraisers and to delete names from mailing
lists. It also guarantees anonymity to donors except in cases where the size of 
the donation is big enough to bring into question the organisation’s independence.

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Signatories will make sure donations are used appropriately and that those made 
for a specific purpose are used for that purpose. Gifts in kind will be recorded
and published with the value and audit methods clearly described.

Third party fundraisers will be subject to written agreements and have to sign up
to the charities’ own practices.

Signatories that do not meet the standards will be expelled.

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