Donor Bill of Rights
The Macular Degeneration Association subscribes to the Donor Bill Of Rights as Developed by the APF
The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits. It has been endorsed by numerous organizations.
PHILANTHROPY is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the non-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
1. To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
The MISSION of the Macular Degeneration Association is to find a cure for macular degeneration through funding research while providing education and services that improve the quality of life and better visual outcomes for patients and their caregivers.
To fulfill this mission:
The MACULAR DEGENERATION ASSOCIATION
- Funds Research
- Publishes Scientific Findings
- Advocates for Scientific Research and the Rights of People with macular degeneration
- Promotes Macular Degeneration Awareness by means of Local and National virtual meetings.
- Funds Educational Conferences with Renowned Expert Speakers in the Field
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board.
Please refer to Our Team page
3. To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
Please refer to Financial page
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
Gifts and Donations made to the Macular Degeneration Association may be given for either general or specific purposes. Records of where your donation has been used will be happily made available upon request.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
Acknowledgment letters are provided to individuals and corporations.
6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
Please refer to our Donor Privacy Policy
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
All staff members sign a non-discrimination and etiquette agreement upon hiring. Macular Degeneration Association has a ZERO tolerance policy when it comes to these matters.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.
All Solicitations will include a statement of the source so that contributors are made aware that they are being contacted by the Macular Degeneration Association and which type of entity is being used to contact them. Macular Degeneration Association volunteers, employees, or hired solicitors (if any) will be required to provide donors with a phone number, mailing address, and email address where the donation can be made should they prefer to donate in ways other than by direct contact.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
The Macular Degeneration Association will remove the name of any donor from any list that they request shared or not, simply contact us and request to be removed. Please refer to our Donor Privacy Policy
10: To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.
No question will be refused. If we don’t know the answer we will get it and return your call or letter promptly!