The CSM Philanthropy Code of Ethics

Professionals and volunteers who practice philanthropy in Christian schools make these commitments to their donors:

1. We promise to build a relationship with you as Jesus did with his own Philanthropy Committee (Luke 8:3). 
2. We promise to cover our ‘ask’ with a canopy of prayer. 
3. We promise that we will use your gift to move the school forward on behalf of the children within the context of a plan showing excellent stewardship and financial sustainability.
4. We promise to strategically ensure that philanthropy dollars go to extending the mission in the life of the child and will not be diverted to running the operations budget except to support financial aid. 
5. We promise not to show partiality to one over another because of the gifts they have or have not made. 
6. We promise to accept only gifts that are mission-appropriate. 
7. We promise to involve you, if you wish, as a partner with the school. 
8. We promise that asking you to invest in God’s work at the school will be accompanied by the School’s accountability and good stewardship in spending your money in the way you intended.
9. We promise that we are paid salary and not commission. 
10. We promise to be grateful to God and to you for your generosity to the “family of believers” in the school, ask you for gifts that fit your own prosperity, and honor you as a giver.

The Donor Bill of Rights (AFP)

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 assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-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.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.

III. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.

1. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
2. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
3. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.

VII. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.

VIII. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.

1. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
2. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

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.

"Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), all rights reserved.  Reprinted with permission from the Association of Fundraising Professionals."