Ethical Fundraising Guidance[1].pdf - Engineers Without Borders UK

www.ewb-uk.org
registerd charity no: 1101849
EWB-UK ethical fundraising guidance for
fundraisers
EWB, as an engineering based charity, operates in a difficult ethical position.
Engineering is often by its very nature damaging to the environment in some way but
is often capable of having a very positive impact on both quality of life and the
environment.
EWB operates on the principle that organisations’ past transgressions of this policy
may be mitigated by current efforts. This is because EWB wishes to improve the way
companies operate in this world, which can only be achieved by engagement with
them. However, EWB will not accept involvement with companies which, as far as it
is aware, are currently involved in any activities contrary to its own principles.
Before approaching a potential funding source, EWB will seek to carry out as much
research and investigations as possible into the background and activities of the
organisation in question.
EWB will not accept funding or help in kind from companies known to be involved in
the following:
Human rights abuses:
♦ The manufacture of torture equipment or other equipment that is used in the
violation of human rights;
♦ The manufacture of tobacco or tobacco products;
♦ The exploitation of child labour or the suppression of basic workers' rights,
including the right to join a union;
♦ Actions which lead to the removal of any person’s basic human rights;
♦ Actions which lead to the removal of any person’s source of income, food,
property or shelter without providing compensation or alternative income, food
source, property or shelter of comparative value.
The Arms Trade & War:
♦ The manufacture, sale, production or brokerage of armaments;
♦ The design or construction of infrastructure for war, such as military airports
or nuclear docks.
♦ The offering of war services, such as mercenaries or war logistics;
Ecological Impact:
♦ The extraction of fossil fuels or natural resources without carrying out any
mitigation of negative ecological impact that could reasonably be expected;
♦ The extraction of fossil fuels without making serious efforts to search for
alternative energy sources;
♦ The manufacture of unnatural chemicals which have usable alternatives and
which may contribute to problems such as ozone depletion, or which may
accumulate and cause damage to nature;
♦ The unsustainable harvest of natural resources, such as timber clearance,
which leads to deforestation.
♦ Any activities which causes suffering to or death or extinction of indigenous
flora and fauna. (NB: Organisations involved in activities which can be
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www.ewb-uk.org
registerd charity no: 1101849
reasonably expected to have a negative impact upon indigenous species
should take all necessary steps to relocate such flora and fauna or otherwise
prevent damage).
Animal Welfare:
♦ Animal testing of cosmetic or household products or their ingredients;
♦ Exploitative factory farming methods;
♦ Hunting for pleasure;
♦ The fur trade.
Trade:
♦ Trade activities likely to unfairly cause direct damage to the micro or macro
economies of developing world countries – such as foodstuffs with excessive
subsidies from western governments;
♦ Corruption, including the funding of political parties or individuals for the
purpose of furthering their own interests.
Drugs & Medicines:
♦ Actions which prevent the supply of HIV/AIDS or anti malarial drugs reaching
those in the developing world who need them, such as organisations which
take legal action to prevent the manufacture of generic alternatives to these
drugs;
♦ Dangerous or exploitative drugs testing on people in the developing world or
elsewhere.
Religion:
♦ Operations which promote one religion to the detriment or exclusion of any
other – such as church groups which donate money in order to encourage or
enforce conversion to their religion.
Prejudice:
♦ Activities, literature or policies which promote racism, homophobia, sexual
inequality or other prejudice against any particular group of people.
Conditions:
EWB will only accept unconditional donations, apart from donates which:
♦ Are tied to particular activities already planned by EWB or ongoing.
♦ Are tied to activities suggested by the donors which agree with EWB’s
mission and charitable objectives.
The principles behind this are that EWB does not exist to advertise or promote
particular donors, and only exists to promote its own objectives.
Companies and organisations to be approached will be researched by EWB’s
fundraisers and compared to each of the policies above. If there is clearly no breach
of these principles, they may go ahead and approach the organisation. However, if
there is ambiguity or confusion about the ethical value of the organisation the
company shall be presented to the Trustees and they shall decide the action to be
taken. Complaints and ethical issues with existing donors shall be similarly dealt
with.
Organisations with a clear breach of the policies above shall not be approached.
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