Policies
Donor Privacy Policy
Good News Partners values and respects its donors’ right to privacy. It affirms that its fund-raising practices protect against unauthorized use of its donor lists, and permits no general telephone solicitation of the public.
Good News Partners utilizes donors’ personal information such as names, mailing addresses and email addresses only for purposes of donor acknowledgement and/or when an individual voluntarily provides this information and opts to join our mailing list. Good News Partners will not share or sell donors’ personal or contact information with any third party organizations for purposes of solicitation.
Visitors to our Good News Partners website remain anonymous. Good News Partners does not require visitors to register or provide personal information to view the site. There are instances when site visitors are asked for additional information in order to provide requested services. For example, information will be requested when making an online donation to Good News Partners so that the gift may be properly processed and acknowledged. Good News Partners online donors select the personal information that is received and can opt to remain anonymous. All credit card transactions are conducted over a secure server. All credit card information is destroyed after the transaction is posted.
Your Access to and Control Over Information
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting the business manager at (773) 764-4998 or by email at info@goodnewspartners.org:
Review what data we have about you, if any
Change/correct any data we have about you
Have us delete any data we have about you
Express any concern you have about our use of your data
Good News Partners welcomes comments or questions about this policy. We are committed to protecting your personal information, and will make every reasonable effort to keep that information secure.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Section 1
Purpose: Good News Partners is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Maintenance of its tax-exempt status is important both for its continued financial stability and for public support. Therefore, the IRS as well as state regulatory and tax officials view the operations of Good News Partners as a public trust, which is subject to scrutiny by and accountable to such governmental authorities as well as to members of the public. Consequently, there exists between Good News Partners and its board, officers, and management employees and the public a fiduciary duty, which carries with it a broad and unbending duty of loyalty and fidelity. The board, officers, and management employees have the responsibility of administering the affairs of Good News Partners’ honestly and prudently, and of exercising their best care, skill, and judgment for the sole benefit of Good News Partners. Those persons shall exercise the utmost good faith in all transactions involved in their duties, and they shall not use their positions with Good News Partners or knowledge gained therefrom for their personal benefit. The interests of the organization must be the first priority in all decisions and actions.
Section 2
Persons Concerned: This statement is directed not only to directors and officers, but to all employees who can influence the actions of Good News Partners. For example, this would include the Executive Leadership Team, all who make purchasing decisions, all persons who might be described as "management personnel," and anyone who has proprietary information concerning Good News Partners.
Section 3
Areas in which conflict may arise: Conflicts of interest may arise in the relations of directors, officers, and management employees with any of the following third parties: 1. Persons and firms supplying goods and services to Good News Partners. 2. Persons and firms from whom Good News Partners leases property and equipment. 3. Persons and firms with whom Good News Partners is dealing or planning to deal in connection with the gift, purchase or sale of real estate, securities, or other property. 4. Competing or affinity organizations. 5. Donors and others supporting Good News Partners. 6. Agencies, organizations and associations which affect the operations of Good News Partners. 7. Family members, friends, and other employees.
Section 4
Nature of conflicting interest: A conflicting interest may be defined as an interest, direct or indirect, with any persons or firms mentioned in Section 3. Such an interest might arise through: 1. Owning stock or holding debt or other proprietary interests in any third party dealing with Good News Partners. 2. Holding office, serving on the board, participating in management, or being otherwise employed (or formerly employed) with any third party dealing with Good News Partners. 3.Receiving remuneration for services with respect to individual transactions involving Good News Partners. 4. Using Good News Partners’ time, personnel, equipment, supplies, or good will for other than Good News Partners -approved activities, programs, and purposes. 5. Receiving personal gifts or loans from third parties dealing or competing with Good News Partners. Receipt of any gift is disapproved except gifts of a value less than $150, which could not be refused without discourtesy. No personal gift of money should ever be accepted.
Section 5
Interpretation of this statement of policy: The areas of conflicting interest listed in Section 3, and the relations in those areas which may give rise to conflict, as listed in Section 4, are not exhaustive. Conflicts might arise in other areas or through other relations. It is assumed that the directors, officers, and management employees will recognize such areas and relation by analogy. The fact that one of the interests described in Section 4 exists does not necessarily mean that a conflict exists, or that the conflict, if it exists, is material enough to be of practical importance, or if material, that upon full disclosure of all relevant facts and circumstances it is necessarily adverse to the interests of Good News Partners. However, it is the policy of the board that the existence of any of the interests described in Section 4 shall be disclosed before any transaction is consummated. It shall be the continuing responsibility of the board, officers, and management employees to scrutinize their transactions and outside business interests and relationships for potential conflicts and to immediately make such disclosures.
Section 6
Disclosure Policy and Procedure: Transactions with parties with whom a conflicting interest exists may be undertaken only if all of the following are observed: 1. The conflicting interest is fully disclosed; 2. The person with the conflict of interest is excluded from the discussion and approval of such transaction; 3. A competitive bid or comparable valuation exists; and 4. The [board or a duly constituted committee thereof] has determined that the transaction is in the best interest of the organization. Disclosure in the organization should be made to the chief executive officer (or if she or he is the one with the conflict, then to the board chair), who shall bring the matter to the attention of the [board or a duly constituted committee thereof]. Disclosure involving directors should be made to the board chair, (or if she or he is the one with the conflict, then to the board vice-chair) who shall bring these matters to the [board or a duly constituted committee thereof]. The [board or a duly constituted committee thereof] shall determine whether a conflict exists and in the case of an existing conflict, whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized as just, fair, and reasonable to Good News Partners. The decision of the Board of Directors on these matters will rest in their sole discretion, and their concern must be the welfare of Good News Partners and the advancement of its purpose.
Whistleblower Protection Policy
Good News Partners requires directors, officers, and employees to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As employees and representatives of Good News Partners, we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Reporting Responsibility:
This Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious concerns internally so that Good News Partners can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions. It is the responsibility of all board members, officers, employees and volunteers to report concerns about violations of Good News Partners’ code of ethics or suspected violations of law or regulations that govern Good News Partners’ operations.
No Retaliation:
It is contrary to the values of Good News Partners for anyone to retaliate against any board member, officer, employee or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of Good News Partners. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment. Reporting Procedure Good News Partners has an open door policy and suggests that employees share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with their supervisor. If you are not comfortable speaking with your supervisor or you are not satisfied with your supervisor’s response, you are encouraged to speak with the Executive Director, Tim Jones. Supervisors and managers are required to report complaints or concerns about suspected ethical and legal violations in writing to the Good News Partners’ Board of Directors Chairperson, who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints, and serves as Compliance Officer. The Good News Partners’ Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring that all complaints about unethical or illegal conduct are investigated and resolved. The Compliance Officer will advise the Executive Director of all complaints and their resolution and will report at least annually to the Treasurer on compliance activity relating to accounting or alleged financial improprieties.
Accounting and Auditing Matters:
The Good News Partners’ Compliance Officer shall immediately notify the Audit Committee/Finance Committee of any concerns or complaint regarding corporate accounting practices, internal controls or auditing and work with the committee until the matter is resolved.