Donor Contributions, Acceptance & Refund Policy
“Honoring Every Donation with Integrity, Stewardship, and Accountability”
At Globalgood, we believe that every contribution represents trust in our mission and commitment to making meaningful, lasting change. This Policy affirms our promise to manage donations with integrity, transparency, and respect for the intentions of every donor. It outlines how we accept, acknowledge, and — in rare circumstances — refund contributions, ensuring that all gifts are stewarded in alignment with our values, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
This Policy applies across all Globalgood offices and chapters worldwide and serves as a guide for donors, fundraisers, and our internal teams.
Jump To
- Purpose and Scope
- Definitions
- Guiding Principles
- Donor Rights and Relationship Management
- Types of Acceptable Contributions
- Review and Acceptance Process
- Restricted and Designated Gifts
- Gift Acknowledgment and Recognition
- Refund and Cancellation Policy
- Privacy and Confidentiality of Donor Information
- Ethical Fundraising and Compliance
- Policy Review and Amendments
1. Purpose and Scope
This Donor Contributions, Acceptance, and Refund Policy (“Policy”) sets out the principles, standards, and procedures governing how Globalgood (“Globalgood”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) receives, manages, acknowledges, and, where applicable, refunds charitable contributions and gifts. It applies to all contributions received globally by the Globalgood international secretariat and its independently registered but affiliated national and regional chapters and offices (collectively, “Globalgood Chapters”).
This Policy ensures that all donations are used ethically, transparently, and in accordance with Globalgood’s mission, vision, and values. It provides guidance for donors, founding holders, board members, fundraisers, and staff on the responsible stewardship of contributions, the types of gifts accepted, and the rare circumstances under which a donation may be refunded.
2. Definitions
- Contribution / Donation: A voluntary, non-reciprocal transfer of money, goods, services, or property to Globalgood without expectation of return.
- Donor: Any individual, foundation, corporation, institution, or other entity making a contribution to Globalgood.
- Founding Holder: An individual or entity recognized as a foundational contributor to Globalgood’s establishment or growth, including initial contributors of capital, resources, or strategic support.
- Restricted Gift: A donation earmarked by the donor or founding holder for a specific purpose, project, program, or region.
- Unrestricted Gift: A donation made without limitation, to be used at Globalgood’s discretion.
- In-kind Donation: A non-cash gift, such as goods, services, property, or equipment.
3. Guiding Principles
Globalgood’s approach to fundraising and donor engagement is guided by:
- Accountability and transparency
- Integrity and mission alignment
- Respect for donor’s and founding holder’s intent and rights
- Compliance with applicable laws and global best practices
- Protection of the independence and neutrality of Globalgood’s work
4. Donor Rights and Relationship Management
Globalgood affirms the Donor Bill of Rights, which includes a donor’s and founding holder’s right to:
- Be informed of Globalgood’s mission, use of donated resources, and capacity to use donations effectively.
- Have access to recent financial statements.
- Receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
- Remain anonymous if they choose.
- Be assured that their information is handled in compliance with privacy laws and not shared without consent.
- Ask questions and receive prompt, truthful answers.
5. Types of Acceptable Contributions
Globalgood accepts the following types of contributions, subject to review:
- Cash donations (via bank transfer, cheque, mobile money, online payment gateways, etc.)
- Publicly traded securities
- Grants and sponsorships
- In-kind gifts (goods, services, equipment, technology, etc.)
- Bequests and legacies
- Donations via third-party fundraising platforms
- Digital assets (subject to due diligence and conversion policy)
Globalgood reserves the right to decline any gift that:
- Is inconsistent with our mission or values
- Would impose undue restrictions or costs
- Could damage Globalgood’s reputation or independence
- Appears to come from unethical or non-transparent sources
6. Review and Acceptance Process
- Unrestricted donations are generally accepted without formal review.
- Restricted or complex donations (e.g., large gifts, real estate, endowments, naming rights) must be reviewed by designated staff or a Gift Acceptance Committee, where applicable.
- All donations must be lawful, free of coercion, and documented with donor or founding holder intent.
7. Restricted and Designated Gifts
Donors and founding holders may request that their gifts support specific programs, projects, or regions. While Globalgood will honour intent where feasible, we reserve the right to reallocate restricted funds if the original purpose is fulfilled, becomes impractical, or ceases to align with organizational priorities. In such cases, we will make every reasonable effort to consult the donor or their representatives.
8. Gift Acknowledgment and Recognition
All donations will be acknowledged promptly in accordance with legal requirements and donor or founding holder preferences. Recognition may include:
- Public thank-yous (where permitted)
- Certificates or letters of appreciation
- Naming opportunities (subject to terms and board approval)
- Donors and founding holders may choose to be publicly recognized or remain anonymous.
9. Refund and Cancellation Policy
As a general rule, all contributions and donations to Globalgood are considered non-refundable. This is a globally recognized standard in nonprofit and charitable organizations, as donations are typically irrevocable gifts made to support a cause without expectation of return. Once received, these funds may be immediately allocated or disbursed in furtherance of Globalgood’s mission, programs, and commitments.
However, Globalgood recognizes that exceptional circumstances may arise where a refund is appropriate or required by law. In such cases, Globalgood will review refund requests on a case-by-case basis in alignment with legal, ethical, and fiduciary responsibilities.
9.1. Exceptions to Non-Refundability
A donation may be eligible for partial or full refund under the following exceptional circumstances:
- Unauthorized or fraudulent transaction: If the donation was made without the knowledge or consent of the donor or founding holder (e.g., due to fraud or identity theft).
- Duplicate donation or processing error: If the donation was unintentionally made more than once, or the amount donated differs from what was intended due to a system or user error.
- Donor or founding holder error promptly reported: If a donor or founding holder made an error in the donation amount or details and notifies Globalgood in writing within 30 calendar days of the original transaction.
- Inability to fulfill the restricted purpose: If a restricted donation was made for a specific purpose or project that becomes impossible to execute, and the donor or founding holder declines reassignment to a related initiative.
- Legal obligation: Where a refund is required to comply with legal regulations, court orders, or government directives.
Refunds will not be issued for:
- Donations already expended in accordance with the donor’s or founding holder’s intent
- Gifts made more than 30 days prior to the refund request
- Donations made in exchange for a good or service (e.g., event tickets, merchandise, or benefits) unless specifically stated as refundable
- In-kind gifts or contributions of services
- Digital Assets or stock donations already converted or transferred
9.2. Refund Request Process
To request a refund, the donor or founding holder must submit a written request to Globalgood’s Donor Relations Team. The request must include:
- Full name and contact information of the donor or founding holder
- Date and method of donation
- Amount and intended purpose of the gift
- Proof of transaction (e.g., receipt, bank statement)
- Reason for requesting the refund
All requests should be submitted to Globalgood Donor Services. Refund requests are reviewed by Globalgood’s Finance Office and, where needed, the Executive Team or Board, with a decision communicated within 15 business days. If approved, refunds will be processed using the original payment method, subject to transaction timelines of payment processors.
9.3. Global Compliance and Discretion
Globalgood complies with all applicable international and local fundraising laws, including anti-money laundering (AML), sanctions compliance, and donor privacy regulations. Globalgood retains the discretion to decline a refund if the request does not meet the above criteria or would otherwise compromise legal or ethical standards.
10. Privacy and Confidentiality of Donor Information
Globalgood values donor and founding holder privacy and adheres to all applicable data protection laws. Their information will not be sold, rented, or exchanged with third parties, and will only be used for purposes related to engagement with Globalgood.
11. Ethical Fundraising and Compliance
Globalgood adheres to the highest ethical standards, including:
- International Fundraising Codes of Ethics (e.g., IFC, AFP)
- Local regulations governing nonprofit solicitation and accounting
- Anti-money laundering (AML), anti-terrorism, and sanctions compliance
- Avoidance of conflicts of interest
12. Changes and Updates
Globalgood may amend this Donor Contributions, Acceptance, and Refund Policy from time to time to reflect evolving regulatory requirements, donor engagement practices, or organizational priorities. Any such updates will be published on our official website and will include the date the revision takes effect. We encourage donors and supporters to review the most current version periodically. Continued support or contribution following an update constitutes your acknowledgment and agreement to the revised terms.