A. Conduct Ourselves With Honesty and Integrity. The Avenue staff, board members and volunteers will act with honesty, integrity and openness in all their dealings as representatives of the organization. We promote a working environment that values respect, fairness and integrity. We encourage our employees to always make sure that any decisions and actions do not give the appearance of impropriety.
B. Focus on our Mission. We have a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the Board, in pursuit of the public good. All our programs will support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the organization will understand and be loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission will be responsive to the constituencies and communities served by The Avenue and foster building a true “community of generosity.”
C. Have An Active Board. We have an active leadership team that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organization. The Board of Directors will approve the mission and strategic direction of the organization. Each Board member will have the requisite skills and experience to carry out their duties and ensure that all members understand and fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit of The Avenue and its public purpose. The Board has a conflict of interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance of such are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal or other means.
D. Be Accountable. We will be vigilant in compliance with laws and regulations that govern or regulate our organization. At The Avenue, it our intention that our employees never knowingly violate laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures.
E. Be Responsible Stewards. We will manage funds responsibly and prudently in pursuing our mission. We will spend an adequate amount to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional management. We will provide reasonable staff compensation relative to their role, maintain reasonable fundraising costs, and not accumulate excessive debt or reserve funds. We will be responsible stewards of our company and community’s assets.
F. Inform People of The Work We Do. We will provide comprehensive and timely information to reasonable requests for information from the public, media and all stakeholders. Basic informational data about the organization, such as the Form 990, will be posted on the Avenue website or otherwise available to the public.
G. Raise Funds Appropriately. We will raise funds from the public and donor institutions and be truthful in solicitation materials. We respect the privacy concerns of all donors and will disclose important and relevant information to potential donors. In raising necessary funds, we will inform donors of the way the resources will be used to advance our mission and assure their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were provided. Ensure that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature and to provide the opportunity for anyone’s names to be deleted from mailing lists that we may intend to use. We will not sell or distribute any internal mail lists for other intended gain.
H. Value Our Members and Sponsors. We will strive to exceed members’ and corporate sponsors’ expectations and provide fair treatment, professionalism, and value in all our interactions. We will work to create programs and offerings that drive additional value throughout the year for their investment and support.