Free Ethical Fundraising Policy
Template & Creator
Commit to honest solicitation, donor rights, no commission-based pay, proper receipting, and complaint handling. Generate a branded PDF or Word document in minutes — free, no sign-up.
Create your policy →Commit in writing to honest solicitation, donor rights, and ethical fundraiser conduct — and stand behind every gift.
governance policies the IRS Form 990 asks about by name
Source: IRS Form 990, Part VI
of annual revenue a typical organization loses to fraud
Source: ACFE Report to the Nations
U.S. nonprofits the IRS expects to follow sound governance practices
Source: IRS
Tell us about your organization
Frequently asked questions
Can we pay fundraisers a commission on what they raise?+
No. Consistent with widely accepted professional standards, this policy prohibits commission- or percentage-based compensation tied to funds raised. Fundraising staff and contractors are paid by salary, fee, or wage instead.
What are donor rights?+
They are the assurances reflected in the sector’s Donor Bill of Rights concept — to be informed about the mission and use of gifts, to access financial statements, to expect gifts are used as intended, to receive proper acknowledgment, and to have privacy respected.
How does this policy relate to gift acceptance and donor privacy?+
It works alongside them. This policy cross-links to your Gift Acceptance Policy for which gifts to accept or decline, and to your Donor Privacy Policy for how donor information is protected and never sold, rented, or traded.