Ethical fundraising policy

Who do we actively exclude as funders?

• Corporations with destructive activities as core business (fossil fuel companies, industrial food companies, non-ethical banks)
• Organisations or foundations that receive money that can directly be linked to destructive activities
• Organisations, foundations or companies that cause harm to the environment
• Organisations, foundations or companies that are on the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions list or in any other way can be linked to the Isreali apartheid regime
• Organisations, foundations or companies that have values that contradict our own
• Organisations, foundations or companies that cause harm to our communities or would make our communities feel uneasy about attending events due to the funding origin
• How would our communities feel about us accepting this money?

What do we try to avoid (acceptable if we are really in financial troubles)?

• Funding that comes with too many reporting requirements (like EU subsidies). To be decided on a case-to-case basis, depending on our needs.
• Funding that limits us too much in what we can or can’t do, especially if it is not in line with our values. To be decided on a case-to-case basis, depending on our needs.
• Funding that comes from an ethical source but has other constrictions: Is there a way that this funding relationship can be equitable and offer opportunities for dialogue between funder and funded?
• Funders that ask us to put their logo on all materials
• Governments. Only acceptable if they support our values and goals and it does not come with too heavy reporting requirements.
• Corporations

Who do we want as funders?

• Individuals that support our values and goals
• Organisations that support our values and goals
• Foundations with light reporting requirements and high flexibility
• Corporations with an ethical core business
• Ethical banks

Internal due diligence process for new funders:

1. Someone in the organisation proposes a new potential funder
2. The team does research on the origin of the money of the funder, the reporting requirements and flexibility of the funding
3. If we are unsure of our communities’ relationship to a funder we will hold a focus group to learn from people with lived experience which we lack. We will always remunerate participants. Please see below.
4. The team checks based on research if there are reasons to refuse a funder. They take a final decision by consensus.

Communication about funding we accept & inviting feedback

It is important to us to be as transparent as possible publicly about the where money comes from that makes our work possible. We will always declare our funding sources, no matter the size. We will not always announce new funding relationships due to the capacity of our team but we will always have a line (funded by XYZ funder) or logo on our website in a place that’s easy to find.

We invite our audience, creatives, team, board of directors, the public and funders who we have chosen not to work with (publicly or internally) to come to us with feedback. We appreciate that the decisions we take as a team will not always resonate with others. We also appreciate that circumstances change, that we might find out facts that we were not aware of or that we change our mind. We will be open about changing our mind and share this publicly.

We will endeavour to respond to all feedback within 2 weeks and if we cannot do so we will inform you of our new timeline as soon as we can.

Community consultation

Example questions for your consultation group:

It is always important to be clear with any consultation group what the group is for and therefore what is (or is not) in your power to respond to in any specific situation. We will always remunerate participants for their knowledge and expertise.

• How important to the group is the project you are fundraising for?
• Does the group know who the potential funders are? How do they feel about them?
• Does the group have any concerns? If so, how will you take those on board?
• How will you make clear to the group your process for listening to, and acting upon, their concerns?
• How does the group want you to communicate your decisions and reasoning back to them?
• How will you respond to anyone who is unhappy with your decision?

Written on: 13/06/2024

Next review date: 13/06/2026

Ort Gallery

ortgallery.co.uk