Fundraising Best Practice

Irish Film Institute has formally adopted the Statement of Guiding Principles on Fundraising and is committed to complying fully with all of its principles and obligations.

OUR PUBLIC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

Irish Film Institute is committed to complying with the Statement for Guiding Principles for Fundraising and has formally discussed and adopted the Statement at a meeting of the governing body.

Irish Film Institute confirms its commitment to the principles set out in the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising by a statement to that effect in its annual report.

Irish Film Institute has a Donor Charter which is consistent with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising.

Irish Film Institute regularly monitors compliance with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising and compliance reports are received regularly by the governing body.

Irish Film Institute considers the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising when planning all fundraising activity.

Irish Film Institute has a policy on working with third party fundraisers (if applicable).

Irish Film Institute provides honest, open and transparent disclosure when fundraising from the public.

Irish Film Institute has appointed a member of the governing body and/or a senior member of staff to be responsible for compliance with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising.

Irish Film Institute ensures that fundraising staff are provided with information and training on the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising and its implementation.

Irish Film Institute has a feedback and complaints procedure consistent with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising. Feedback is recorded for review by relevant staff including the CEO and governing body. Feedback is responded to promptly and appropriately.

Irish Film Institute prepares financial reports consistent with the requirements of the Charities Act 2009 which include a statement concerning the extent to which control of the organisation is independent of its funding sources.

Irish Film Institute ensures that all donations are tracked and recorded and complies with data protection requirements.

Irish Film Institute is accessible to the public through a number of readily available contact options.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

Commitment to Standards in Fundraising Practice

Irish Film Institute is fully committed to achieving the standards contained within the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising.

The Statement exists to:

• Improve fundraising practice
• Promote high levels of accountability and transparency by organisations fundraising from the public
• Provide clarity and assurances to donors and prospective donors about the organisations they support

Irish Film Institute has considered the Statement and believe we meet the standards it sets out. Where we have not complied with the Statement we have provided an explanation here.

Irish Film Institute’s report on our fundraising activities is available in our most recent Annual Report which can be found here: www.wexfordopera.com.

We welcome your feedback on our performance via any of the contact points provided (see below).

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Irish Film Institute is open about whether those seeking donations on their behalf are volunteers, employees of the organisation or third party agents. Anyone fundraising on behalf of Irish Film Institute must ensure that prospective donors are aware of their status, i.e. volunteers, employees or third party agents.

OUR DONOR CHARTER 

As a charity seeking donations from the public we, Irish Film Institute, aim to comply with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising.

• Our pledge is to treat all our donors, beneficiaries and the public with respect, honesty and openness.
• We commit to being accountable and transparent so that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in Irish Film Institute.
• We promise we will effectively apply your gifts to us for their intended purposes.

We commit that you, our donors and prospective donors will:

• Be informed of the organisation’s mission, and of the way the organisation intends to use donated resources.
• Be assured that fundraising activities will not be unreasonably persistent, intrusive or place undue pressure on people to donate. Should someone not wish to donate, or wish to cease making a donation, that decision will be respected.
• Have access to information about the charity’s charitable purpose and activities
• Be communicated with in an open, frank and honest way and that transactions, operations, information and communications are easily understood by donors and the public alike.
• Be informed of the identity of those serving on the organisation’s governing board, and that the board will exercise prudent judgement in its stewardship responsibilities.
• Be engaged with fundraising staff acting with integrity and not misrepresenting the IFI, its need for funds or how they will be applied.
• Have access to the organisation’s most recent financial statements.
• Be assured your gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
• Receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
• Donate to a charity taking responsibility for its actions and will be capable of explaining, clarifying and justifying those actions.
• Be assured that information about your donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
• Expect that all relationships with individuals representing the charity will be dealt with professionally.
• Be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organisation or hired third party agents.
• Have easily available the agreed procedures for making and responding to complaints.
• Have the opportunity for any names to be deleted from mailing lists and to be informed if the organisation intends to share the mailing lists with third parties.
• Receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers to questions you might have of the organisation

FEEDBACK

If you do have a comment about any aspect of our work, you can contact Irish Film Institute in writing or by telephone. In the first instance, your comment will be dealt with by our Chief Executive. Please give us as much information as possible and let us know how you would like us to respond, providing relevant contact details.

Write to:

Ross Keane
Director
Irish Film Institute
6 Eustace Street
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland

Tel:        (+353) 01 679 5744
Email:   rkeane@irishfilm.ie

We are open Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 6.00pm.

OUR COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Irish Film Institute is committed to ensuring that all our communications and dealings with the general public and our supporters are of the highest possible standard. We listen and respond to the views of the general public and our supporters so that we can continue to improve.

Irish Film Institute welcomes both positive and negative feedback. Therefore we aim to ensure that:

• it is as easy as possible to make a complaint
• we treat as a complaint any clear expression of dissatisfaction with our operations which calls for a response
• we treat it seriously whether it is made by telephone, letter, fax, email or in person
• we deal with it quickly and politely
• we respond accordingly – for example, with an explanation, or an apology where we have got things wrong, and information on any action taken etc.
• we learn from complaints, use them to improve, and monitor them at our Board

IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT – STEP ONE

If you do have a complaint about any aspect of our work, you can contact Ross Keane, Director, in writing or by telephone. In the first instance, your complaint will be dealt with by our Chief Executive. Please give us as much information as possible and let us know how you would like us to respond to you, providing relevant contact details.

What happens next?

If you complain in person or over the phone, we will try to resolve the issue there and then. Similarly, if you complain by email or in writing we will always acknowledge your complaint within 7 days, and do everything we can to resolve it within 21 days. If this is not possible, we will explain why and provide a new deadline.

What if the complaint is not resolved?

If you are not happy with our response, you may get in touch again by writing to Irish Film Institute’s Chair. The Chair will ensure that your appeal is considered at Board level and will respond within two weeks of this consideration by Board members.

IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT – STEP TWO

Monitoring Group
Ideally in the first instance you should address your complaint to the organisation as outlined above. However, you may at any stage make your complaint in writing to the Monitoring Group that oversees charities’ compliance with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising.

Write to:

The Chair
Irish Film Institute
6 Eustace Street
Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Ireland

What happens next?
You will receive confirmation of receipt of your complaint within seven days. The Monitoring Group will consider complaints and will respond according to its own procedures.

This complaints procedure does not apply to Irish Film Institute’s staff or agents.

The Statement of Guiding Principles on Fundraising is available at http://www.ictr.ie/content/fundraising-codes-practice.