Donor Bill of Rights

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 ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the Louisville Urban League, we declare that all donors have these rights: 

  • To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use contributed resources, and of its capacity to use gifts effectively for their intended purposes. 
  • 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.
  • To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements. 
  • To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given. 
  • To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition. 
  • To be assured that information about their gifts is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law. 
  • To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature. 
  • To be informed whether those seeking gifts are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors. 
  • To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share. 
  • To feel free to ask questions when making a gifts and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers. 

Additionally, the Louisville Urban League will not share or sell donor information with anyone, nor send mailings or communications on behalf of other organizations.

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. Louisville Urban League is proud to endorse this and is fully committed to following industry-specific best practices.