Statement of Values and Code of Ethics
Of

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc.

May 28, 2009

As a matter of fundamental principle, the nonprofit community should adhere to the highest ethical standards because it is the right thing to do. As a matter of pragmatic self-interest, the community should do so because public trust in our performance is the bedrock of our legitimacy. Donors and volunteers support charitable organizations because they trust them to carry out their missions, to be good stewards of their resources, and to uphold rigorous standards of conduct.

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. must earn this trust every day and in every possible way and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the core values of integrity, honesty, fairness, openness, respect, and responsibility.

Adherence to the law is the minimum standard of expected behavior. Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. must do more, however, than simply obey the law. We must embrace the spirit of the law, often going beyond legal requirements and making sure that what we do is matched by what the public understands about what we do. Transparency, openness and responsiveness to public concerns must be integral to our behavior.

Statement of Values

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. is and always will be:

• Committed to the public good;
• Accountable to the public;
• Committed beyond the law;
• Respectful for the worth and dignity of individuals;
• Inclusive of members, volunteers and community to the fullest extend possible;
• Respectful for pluralism and diversity
• Transparent, integral and honest;
• Responsible stewards of resources; and,
• Committed to excellence and maintaining the public’s trust.

The Code of Ethics for Organization Name

I. Personal and Professional Integrity

All staff, board members and volunteers of this organization shall act with honesty, integrity and openness in all their dealings as representatives of this organization. Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity.

II. Mission

The organization has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the board of directors, in pursuit of the public good. All of its programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the organization understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the organization and of value to the society at large.

III. Governance

The organization has an active governing body that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction and vision of this organization and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organization. The governing body:

• Ensures that its board members or trustees have the requisite skills and experience to carry out their duties and that all members understand and fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit of the organization and its public purpose;
• Has a conflict of interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal or other means; and
• Is responsible for the hiring, firing, and regular review of the performance of the chief executive officer.
• Ensures that the CEO and appropriate staff provide the governing body with timely and comprehensive information so that the governing body can effectively carry out its duties;
• Ensures that the organization conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
• Ensures that the organization promotes working relationships with board members, staff, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness and openness;
• Ensures that the organization is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all board, staff and volunteer positions;
• Ensures that policies of the organization are in writing, clearly articulated and officially adopted;
• Ensures that the resources of the organization are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
• Ensures that the organization has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.
• Shall abide by the Organizations by-laws and conflict of interest policy.

IV. Legal Compliance

The organization is knowledgeable of and complies with all laws.

V. Responsible Stewardship

This organization will manage their funds responsibly and prudently. This should include the following considerations:

• It spends a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuance of its mission;
• It spends an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional management;
• The organization compensates staff, and any others who may receive compensation, reasonably, appropriately and in accordance with the Federal and State Labor Laws;
• This organization will have reasonable fundraising costs, recognizing the variety of factors that affect fundraising costs;
• This organization will not accumulate operating funds excessively;
• This organization shall prudently draw from endowment funds consistent with donor intent and to support the public mission of this organization;
• This organization shall ensure that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable and appropriate to fulfill the mission of the organization; and,
• All financial reports are factually accurate and complete in all material respects, open for public inspections and filed with the appropriate regulating agencies.

VI. Openness and Disclosure

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. will provide comprehensive and timely information to the public, the media, and all stakeholders and will be responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information and in accordance with the laws. All information about the organization will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of this organization. Basic informational data about the organization, such as the Form 990, reviews and compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on the organization’s website or otherwise available to the public. All solicitation materials will accurately represent the organization’s policies and practices and will reflect the dignity of program beneficiaries. All financial, organizational, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects. This organization will maintain donor confidentiality upon request and in accordance with the law.

VII. Program Evaluation

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. will regularly review program effectiveness. The organization is committed to improving programs and organizational effectiveness and develops mechanisms to promote learning from its activities and the field. The organization is responsive to changes in its field of activity and is responsive to the needs of its constituencies.

VIII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

The organization has a policy of promoting inclusiveness and its staff, board and volunteers reflect diversity in order to enrich its programmatic effectiveness. The organization takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness in its hiring, retention, promotion, board recruitment and constituencies served.

IX. Fundraising

Animal Haven of Hope Society, Inc. shall be truthful in its solicitation materials and shall respect the privacy concerns of individual donors and expend funds consistent with donor intent.

In raising funds from the public, this organization will respect the rights of donors, as follows:

• To be informed of the mission of the organization, the way the resources will be used and their capacity to use donations 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 reports;
• To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
• To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;
• To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the 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 donations are volunteers, employees of the organizations or hired solicitors;
• To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share; and,
• To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

Written permission is required for anyone to solicit, on behalf of this organization, for public or corporate contributions prior to such solicitation.