Our Fundraising Charter
Gondwana Rainforest Trust (GRT) is committed to the highest standards of ethical fundraising, grounded in our mission: Rainforest Protection for Wildlife, Climate, People and the Planet. Our fundraising practices reflect our core values of Care for People, Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, Collaboration, and Care for Country.
We have processes and procedures in place to ensure that:
- decisions to accept or reject donations support the purpose of the organisation;
- legislative requirements for fundraising are met;
- the privacy of donors is maintained;
- free, prior and informed consent is obtained for all images and stories; and
- complaints are handled in a manner consistent with the process outlined in this Charter.
Ethical Conduct
GRT’s fundraising will be underpinned by ethical conduct and will:
- not engage in activities that bring fundraising into disrepute;
- act openly, honestly and with regard to our responsibility for public trust;
- act with respect for professional fundraising, the cause we represent, and our donors;
- not exploit relationships with donors;
- conduct ourselves in a manner that encourages others to aspire to the same high standards, valuing privacy, confidentiality, trust and integrity;
- remain culturally respectful and inclusive in all communications;
- be open about the work we do, including how funds are raised, managed and disbursed.
Truthful Communication
All fundraising materials published by GRT will be truthful and:
- reference the organisation’s identity including name, address, ABN and purpose;
- accurately represent the context, situation, proposed solutions and intended meaning of the information we share;
- avoid material omissions, misleading visual portrayals, and overstating the need or what the donor’s response may achieve;
- adhere to copyright and intellectual property law, including attribution of third-party content, in line with our Communications & Social Media Policy.
Outsourced Fundraising
When outsourcing fundraising activities, GRT will ensure that:
- contracts are in place which meet all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements;
- specific expectations, responsibilities and obligations of each party are clear and in writing; and
- contractors are clearly identified on our website.
Use of Images and Messages
Images and messages used for fundraising will not:
- be untruthful, exaggerated or misleading (e.g. not doctored, fictionalised or misrepresenting the project or fundraising appeal);
- be used if they may endanger the safety of any people;
- be used without the free, prior and informed consent of any person(s) portrayed, including children, their parents or guardians;
- represent people in a dehumanised manner;
- violate copyright, privacy, or defamation laws; and must be attributed appropriately where required.
Digital and Social Media Fundraising
GRT ensures that all fundraising activity on digital platforms and social media reflects the same ethical standards as all other communications. These posts are monitored regularly, and community interactions are moderated in accordance with our Community Engagement Guidelines to ensure respectful and inclusive dialogue.
Decision-Making Framework
GRT's Fundraising & Communications Committee provides oversight with a clear ethical decision-making framework in place which aligns with the values of the organisation and this Fundraising Charter and includes:
- a commitment to portraying conservation projects in a way that recognises underlying environmental threats and respects human dignity, values, history, religion, language and culture;
- a process that integrates a range of key staff in the organisation (e.g. communications, conservation project planning, fundraising and the CEO) in decision-making where appropriate;
- clear responsibilities for approval for publication and use of images and messages;
- a process which recognises and balances the aspirations of our donors and the intended outcomes of conservation projects;
- a commitment to retaining accurate records of fundraising activity and communications to support transparency and accountability.
Complaints Process
GRT has a process in place for people to make a complaint about its fundraising conduct. A complaint must be in writing with supporting material and should state:
- the nature of the conduct in question;
- the provision of the Fundraising Charter alleged to have been breached;
- the reasons for asserting a breach has occurred; and
- evidence to support the claim.
GRT will handle complaints about its fundraising conduct by:
- acknowledging the complaint in writing within seven working days of its receipt;
- dealing with the complaint expeditiously; and
- responding to the complaint within 30 days of receiving the complaint.
For enquiries about our Fundraising Charter or to lodge a complaint, please email: [email protected] or call +61 (02) 8005 6995 during normal office hours.