Privacy Policy and Donor Bill of Rights

Chester County SPCA Privacy Policy 

The Chester County SPCA respects the privacy of its donors. We collect and use personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and email address when a donor voluntarily provides it to us. This information is kept on file for IRS purposes and is used in our development and communication activities.

The Chester County SPCA does NOT sell, trade, or share its donor list with any other organization. The Chester County SPCA never sends out mailings on behalf of other organizations.

The Chester County SPCA subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights.

The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. It has been endorsed by numerous organizations.

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 nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights.

The Donor Bill of Rights

1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgement in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donors will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making donations and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.