Fundraising Policy

The Foundation is committed to ethical fundraising, consistent with the values of the FIA. Fundraising targets will be linked to the goals and targets of the related Fundraising Activity strategy and plan and all monies raised will be utilised for the stated purpose of the appeal. Any communications to the public made in the course of carrying out a fundraising activity shall be truthful and non-deceptive.

Fundraising activities will not be undertaken if they expose the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to any unacceptable financial or reputational risk.

No person directly or indirectly employed by, or volunteering for, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation shall accept commissions or bonuses for fundraising activities on behalf of the organisation.

All personal information, collected by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation in the course of its fundraising activities, is confidential and will not be sold, given away or disclosed to any third party without prior consent.

Ethical Grants and Donations

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation encourages and welcomes donations and grants from a variety of sources. As an independent and apolitical not-for-profit organisation, it relies on donations and grants, and commits to use those funds ethically and efficiently.

This policy recognises the critical importance of ethical conduct in fundraising activities in order to safeguard the status of the organisation as a registered charity and ensures the Great Barrier Reef Foundation stands up to scrutiny by all its stakeholders and the community.

The Foundation may accept donations and grants:

• Where the funds are consistent, in fact and appearance, with the spirit of its mandate;
• Where the funds are not linked to a requirement for the Foundation to endorse any products, services or policies that might be interpreted as a constraint;
• For a specific activity, provided the activity is directly related to Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s mandate and is practically achievable by the Foundation; and
• On the clear understanding that the funder can have no influence over the academic and communications freedom and independence of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s beneficiaries, including the conduct and outcomes of research and publication of results.

The Foundation may reject donations and grants:

• Where communication with the funder comes at a major cost to the Foundation;
• Likely to compromise the Foundation’s integrity, independence, reputation, its capacity to carry out its mission and vision, which dictate its positions or priorities, or ability to speak out against unethical, unfair, or unsafe practices;
• From funders associated with activities, branding or reputation that are not in line with the Foundation’s values;
• Generated by the proceeds of the tobacco industry, crime, pornography, weapons, firearms and munitions or slavery.

Ethical Sponsorships, Partnerships and Cause Related Marketing

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation actively seeks opportunities to work together with external organisations to achieve shared objectives. However, it is vital that the Foundation maintains its independence and does not allow external partnerships to bring the Foundation into disrepute.

The Foundation therefore seeks, as far as is practical and within the constraints of the law:

• Initiatives that do not compromise the independent status of the Foundation; and
• To ensure that the organisational values of the sponsor/partner are consistent with the Foundation’s own organisational values.

This policy has been devised to ensure clarity and openness to all of the Foundation’s stakeholders. A full list of Sponsors, Partners and Cause Related Marketing Partners will be maintained on the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s website.

Prior to entering into any sponsorship, partnership or cause related marketing the Great Barrier Reef Foundation will search publicly available information about the potential funder to ensure that their mission and values align with those of Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Ref. Fundraising Institute of Australia website

Last updated: July 2019