Why we need to raise funds – Wild Welfare US strives to have an ambitious strategy to effect real change to improve captive animal welfare. To deliver this strategy, we need funds. In raising these funds, we will share our vision, our plans of work, and our impact and will seek to engage as many supporters as possible. Raising funds does not drive the work of Wild Welfare US; it drives our ability to deliver our work. In donating and raising funds, our supporters are acting to improve captive animal welfare.

How we raise funds – We are honest and behave with integrity in all our fundraising activities. We raise funds in accordance with our fundraising policy, principles, and associated procedures, and with our data protection policy and procedures. These are designed to promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to consumer privacy. We respect our supporters’ privacy and right to decide how and if Wild Welfare US contacts them. We treat people equally and fairly and we are mindful of how we engage with supporters who may be in vulnerable circumstances.

All Wild Welfare US staff and volunteers involved in fundraising are required to understand this policy, and to adhere to it and its associated procedures.

Where our funds come from:

1. We will seek to generate income and donations from a diverse range of sources to ensure we maintain our sustainability and do not become dependent on any single source.                                                 
2. We accept donations from a range of organizations – trusts, foundations, companies, commercial organizations, and unions – where there will be a benefit to our animal welfare work, without compromising our mission, independence, and credibility. We accept donations from governments for projects to educate people and communities on, and to improve captive animal welfare.                                                                                                                                
3. We actively seek funding in pursuit of our charitable and strategic objectives. We ensure that projects for which we raise funds reflect our mission and priorities and that neither the funding opportunities we pursue, nor the requirements of funders, will deflect us from our strategic objectives.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
4. We seek to avoid soliciting or accepting gifts from individuals, governments or organizations that are reasonably expected to use their funding relationship with Wild Welfare US to deflect criticism from their own involvement in animal welfare issues, or with whom association would significantly risk our reputation.                                                                                                       
5. All gifts and offers of support from organizations and governments may be screened against a set of ethical guidelines in accordance with our fundraising procedures. Sizeable gifts and legacies from individuals will also be subject to screening prior to solicitation or acceptance where appropriate. If we decline a gift or offer of support, we will seek to explain why. We only accept donations that are lawfully made.                                                                                                                                                                                  
6. We make reasonable and appropriate attempts to identify any individual or organization that gives us financial support, particularly where significant sums are donated, or the circumstances of the donation might give rise to notable risk.                                                                                                                 
7. We will not accept anonymous corporate donations, absent approval of the Board of Directors. We may accept anonymous individual, or trust donations, and we may preface acceptance on a third party due diligence process to confirm that Wild Welfare US is not potentially compromised. If a supporter makes themselves known to Wild Welfare US but wishes their gift to remain anonymous, we will honor the wishes, on the basis that the donation carries no significant reputational risk.

This policy was reviewed and approved by Wild Welfare US Board of Trustees

on November 19, 2021.     

Wild Welfare US is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN 87-3213544.

Download Wild Welfare (US) Ethical Fundraising Policy HERE