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Standard
#1 - Doctrinal Statement:
Every member organization
shall subscribe to a written
statement of faith clearly
affirming its commitment
to the evangelical Christian
faith and shall conduct
its financial and other
operations in a manner
which reflects those generally
accepted Biblical truths
and practices.
Standard
#2 - Board of Directors
and Audit Review Function:
Every member organization
shall be governed by a
responsible board of not
less than five individuals,
a majority of whom shall
be other than employees/staff
and/or those related by
blood or marriage, which
shall meet at least semi-annually
to establish policy and
review its accomplishments.
The board or a committee
consisting of a majority
of independent members
shall review the annual
audit and maintain direct
communication between the
board and the independent
certified public accountants.
Standard
#3 - Audited Financial
Statements:
Every member organization
shall obtain an annual
audit performed by an independent
certified public accounting
firm in accordance with
generally accepted auditing
standards (GAAS) with financial
statements prepared in
accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles
(GAAP).
Standard
#4 - Use of Resources:
Every member organization
shall exercise management
and financial controls
necessary to provide reasonable
assurance that all resources
are used (nationally and
internationally) to accomplish
the exempt purposes for
which they are intended.
Standard
#5 - Financial Disclosure:
Every member organization
shall provide a copy of
its current audited financial
statements upon written
request.
Standard
#6 - Conflicts of Interest:
Every member organization
shall avoid conflicts of
interest. Transactions
with related parties may
be undertaken only if all
of the following are observed:
1) a material transaction
is fully disclosed in the
audited financial statements
of the organization; 2)
the related party is excluded
from the discussion and
approval of such transaction;
3) a competitive bid or
comparable valuation exists;
and 4) the organization's
board has acted upon and
demonstrated that the transaction
is in the best interest
of the member organization.
Standard
#7 - Fund Raising:
Every member organization
shall comply with each
of the ECFA Standards for
Fund Raising:
7.1
Truthfulness in Communication: All
representations of
fact, description of
financial condition
of the organization,
or narrative about
events must be current,
complete and accurate.
References to past
activities or events
must be appropriately
dated. There must be
no material omissions
or exaggerations of
fact or use of misleading
photographs or any
other communication
which would tend to
create a false impression
or misunderstanding.
7.2
Communication and Donor
Expectations: Fund
raising appeals must
not create unrealistic
donor expectations
of what a donor's gift
will actually accomplish
within the limits of
the organization's
ministry.
7.3
Communication and Donor
Intent: All statements
made by the organization
in its fund raising
appeals about the use
of the gift must be
honored by the organization.
The donor's intent
is related to both
what was communicated
in the appeal and to
any donor instructions
accompanying the gift.
The organization should
be aware that communications
made in fund raising
appeals may create
a legally binding restriction.
7.4
Projects Unrelated
to a Ministry's Primary
Purpose: An organization
raising or receiving
funds for programs
that are not part of
its present or prospective
ministry, but are proper
in accordance with
its exempt purpose,
must either treat them
as restricted funds
and channel them through
an organization that
can carry out the donor's
intent, or return the
funds to the donor.
7.5
Incentives and Premiums: Organizations
making fund raising
appeals which, in exchange
for a contribution,
offer premiums or incentives
(the value of which
is not insubstantial,
but which is significant
in relation to the
amount of the donation)
must advise the donor
of the fair market
value of the premium
or incentive and that
the value is not deductible
for tax purposes.
7.6
Reporting: On request,
an organization must
provide a report, including
financial information,
on the project for
which it is soliciting
gifts.
7.7
Percentage Compensation
for Fund Raisers: Compensation
of outside fund-raising
consultants or an organization's
own employees based
directly or indirectly
on a percentage of
charitable contributions
raised is not allowed.
7.8
Tax Deductible Gifts
for a Named Recipient's
Personal Benefit: Tax
deductible gifts may
not be used to pass
money or benefits to
any named individual
for personal use.
7.9
Conflict of Interest
on Royalties: An
officer, director,
or other principal
of the organization
must not receive royalties
for any product that
is used for fund raising
or promotional purposes
by his/her own organization.
7.10
Acknowledgement of
Gifts in Kind: Property
or gifts in kind received
by an organization
should be acknowledged
describing the property
or gift accurately
without a statement
of the gift's market
value. It is the responsibility
of the donor to determine
the fair market value
of the property for
tax purposes. The organization
should inform the donor
of IRS reporting requirements
for all gifts in excess
of $5,000.
7.11
Acting in the Interest
of the Donor: An
organization must make
every effort to avoid
accepting a gift from
or entering into a
contract with a prospective
donor which would knowingly
place a hardship on
the donor, or place
the donor's future
well-being in jeopardy.
7.12
Financial Advice: The
representative of the
organization, when
dealing with persons
regarding commitments
on major estate assets,
must seek to guide
and advise donors so
they have adequately
considered the broad
interests of the family
and the various ministries
they are currently
supporting before they
make a final decision.
Donors should be encouraged
to use the services
of their attorneys,
accountants, or other
professional advisors.
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