Donor Relations 

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 assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

I. 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.

II. 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.

III. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.

IV. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.

V. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.

VI. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.

VII. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.

VIII. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.

IX. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.

X. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

D E V E V L O P E D BY 
American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC) 
Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) 
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 
National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE )

Why Give?

The choice to attend Spelman College presents a major financial challenge for many students. Currently, more than 85 percent of Spelman students meet federal guidelines for financial aid, and because Spelman’s ability to meet their financial need is limited, many students are forced to leave the College prior to graduating or take on a large amount of student loans.

Scholarships help bridge the gap between educational costs and unmet student need. With the number of students applying for financial assistance steadily rising, increasing scholarship resources has emerged as a top institutional priority. More scholarship dollars will enhance the College’s ability to offer competitive financial aid packages to attract and retain bright and talented young women.