Donors' Promise

Our donors enable us to deliver better education for people with Down syndrome. Our donors' support is vital to our work. We are committed to the highest standards of donor engagement and fundraising activities. We are accountable, open and transparent in our work.

We pride ourselves in open, honest communication, clarity of purpose, respect for donors' wishes and our fairness.

Introduction

Down Syndrome Education International is a member of the Institute of Fundraising, the Fundraising Standards Board, the National Council of Voluntary Organisations and the European Association of Planned Giving.

Individual staff are also members of the Institute of Fundraising, the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and the European Network of Third Sector Leaders. We abide by the codes of conduct and best practice guidelines issued by these organisations.

We are committed to high standards

• We do all we can to ensure that fundraisers, volunteers and fundraising contractors working with us to raise funds, comply with Codes of Fundraising Practice and with the Fundraising Promise
• We comply with the law including those that apply to data protection, health and safety and the environment

We are honest and open

• We tell the truth and do not exaggerate
• We do what we say we are going to do
• We answer all reasonable questions about our fundraising activities and costs

We are clear

• We are clear about who we are, what we do and how your gift is used
• Where we have a promotional agreement with a commercial company, we make clear how much of the purchase price we receive
• We give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and amend a regular commitment

We are respectful

• We respect the rights, dignities and privacy of our supporters and beneficiaries
• We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift and if you do not want to give or wish to cease giving, we will respect your decision
• If you tell us that you don’t want us to contact you in a particular way we will not do so

We are fair and reasonable

• We take care not to use any images or words that cause unjustifiable distress or offence
• We take care not to cause unreasonable nuisance or disruption

We are accountable

• If you are unhappy with anything we’ve done whilst fundraising, you can contact us to make a complaint. We have a complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on request. If we cannot resolve your complaint, we accept the authority of the Fundraising Standards Board to make a final adjudication.