Responsible Fundraising Policy

"bee Charity" Verein (“BeeCharity”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a Swiss association (Verein) with its seat in Dübendorf, Canton of Zurich, registered in the Commercial Register Office of the Canton of Zurich under UID CHE-457.076.818. Every project we deliver depends on the generosity of the public, of partners and of institutions, and we are acutely aware that the right to ask for support carries a corresponding duty to ask responsibly.

The purpose of this Responsible Fundraising Policy is to set out the ethical and legal standards that govern how BeeCharity raises money and other support. It explains the principles we apply to every appeal, the way we communicate with donors and the public, how we work with corporate partners, how we handle sensitive areas such as environmental claims and appeals involving children, and how we conduct fundraising online, at events and through volunteers. It also sets out how concerns are raised, how the policy is governed and monitored, and how it is kept up to date.

This policy has been prepared to meet the expectations of the nonprofit validation and due-diligence programmes we rely on to access charitable resources — including Goodstack (formerly Percent), TechSoup and Google for Nonprofits — which require applicants to demonstrate transparent, honest and lawful fundraising practices. It was formally adopted by the board and is published in the spirit of transparency; it describes the standards we hold ourselves to.

All fundraising carried out by or on behalf of BeeCharity is guided by a set of core ethical principles. Everyone who raises funds for us is required to uphold them:

These principles are consistent with internationally recognised codes of fundraising conduct and with Swiss expectations of good nonprofit governance. Where any tension arises between raising more money and upholding these principles, the principles always take precedence.

• Honesty — we are truthful in every appeal and never mislead, exaggerate or create a false impression of need, urgency or impact.
• Respect — we treat donors, beneficiaries and the public with dignity, and we never use pressure, manipulation or undue persistence to secure a gift.
• Integrity — we act in the best interests of our charitable purpose and never allow private interests, or the interests of a donor, to distort our mission.
• Transparency — we are open about who we are, how we are registered, how funds are used, and the current limits of our status, including that our tax-exemption is still being confirmed.
• Accountability — we take responsibility for the actions of everyone who fundraises in our name, and we welcome scrutiny of how we raise and spend money.

BeeCharity fundraises in compliance with the laws applicable to a Swiss association, including the relevant provisions of the Swiss Civil Code governing associations, Swiss rules on unfair competition and advertising as they apply to charitable appeals, data-protection law under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revDSG), and anti-money-laundering obligations. Where we raise funds from, or communicate with, supporters in the European Union or other jurisdictions, we also have regard to the applicable local requirements, including the GDPR in relation to donor data.

We only make claims about our legal status that are accurate. We describe ourselves as a registered Swiss association with the UID shown above, and we are careful not to imply a charitable tax-exemption or tax-deductibility that has not yet been formally confirmed. Our full registration details are published in our Legal Notice and Organisation information so that donors, regulators and validation partners can verify them independently.

This policy operates alongside our Donation and Refund Policy, our Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy, our Privacy Policy and our Partner Due Diligence Policy. Together these documents form the compliance framework within which all fundraising takes place, and no fundraising activity may be conducted in a way that breaches any of them or any applicable law.

Trust is the foundation of fundraising, and honest communication is how we earn it. Every appeal, campaign page, email, social-media post and printed material produced by or for BeeCharity must be accurate, balanced and capable of being substantiated. We describe needs and outcomes truthfully, we do not overstate the scale of a problem or the effect of a gift, and we make clear what a donation will and will not achieve.

When we describe how donations are used, we distinguish clearly between restricted appeals (for a specific project or purpose) and unrestricted giving (for our general work), so that donors understand exactly what they are supporting. We do not use images, statistics or case studies out of context, and we obtain appropriate consent before featuring any individual’s story or likeness, in line with our Photography, Media and Consent Policy. Where we describe future plans rather than completed work, we say so plainly rather than presenting an aspiration as an achievement.

If we ever discover that a fundraising communication was inaccurate or misleading, we will correct it promptly, inform affected donors where appropriate, and review how the error occurred so that it is not repeated. Because our public claims can commit the association, significant campaigns and public statements are approved under our joint signing authority, with two authorised representatives involved.

Donors are partners in our mission, not merely a source of income, and we are committed to treating them with respect at every stage. We make giving straightforward and voluntary, we never apply undue pressure, and we respect a person’s decision to decline, pause or stop giving without question. We are particularly careful in our dealings with anyone who may be in a vulnerable circumstance, and we will not knowingly accept a gift where doing so would cause the donor hardship or where the person may lack the capacity to make the decision.

We respect donors’ privacy and communication preferences. Personal data is handled strictly in accordance with our Privacy Policy: we collect only what we need, we use it only for the purposes the donor would reasonably expect, we do not sell or rent donor data, and we make it easy to update preferences or unsubscribe from communications at any time. Where consent is required for marketing communications, we obtain it, and we honour withdrawals promptly.

Donors have the right to know how their gift is used, to receive an acknowledgement, to ask questions and to receive a straight answer, and to complain if they are unhappy. We recognise a donor’s right to remain anonymous, to request that their giving is not publicised, and to ask that we limit the frequency of our contact. These rights are set out for donors in our Donation and Refund Policy and are supported by the complaints route described below.

Partnerships with companies can provide valuable financial support, goods, services and expertise, but they must never compromise our independence, integrity or charitable purpose. Before entering any corporate partnership, sponsorship or cause-related arrangement, we carry out proportionate due diligence on the prospective partner in line with our Partner Due Diligence Policy, considering the nature of their business, their reputation, their conduct on human rights, labour and the environment, and any potential conflict with our values or mission.

We will decline or end a partnership where association with a company would damage public trust in BeeCharity, where the company’s activities are fundamentally inconsistent with our environmental and humanitarian purpose, or where the arrangement would give a partner improper influence over our decisions or the way we describe our work. We retain full editorial control over how any partnership is described, and we do not allow a funder to dictate our programme priorities in a way that distorts our mission.

The terms of significant corporate partnerships are recorded in writing and approved under our joint signing authority, so that two authorised representatives are involved in committing the association. We are transparent about material partnerships, we manage any conflicts of interest under our Conflicts of Interest Policy, and we ensure that gifts and hospitality connected with a partnership never become a means of improper influence, consistent with our Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy.

Because much of BeeCharity’s work concerns the environment, we hold ourselves to a particularly high standard of accuracy when we make environmental claims in our fundraising. We are committed to avoiding “greenwashing” — that is, overstating the environmental benefit of a project, a donation or a partnership, or implying an environmental impact that we cannot substantiate.

Any environmental claim we make in an appeal — for example the amount of habitat restored, waste removed, or emissions avoided — must be based on a reasonable, evidenced methodology, must be expressed in clear and non-misleading terms, and must distinguish between results already achieved and outcomes we hope to achieve. We avoid vague or absolute terms (such as unqualified claims to be “carbon neutral” or “100% green”) unless they can be fully justified, and we explain the assumptions behind any figures we publish.

The same discipline applies to partners: we do not lend our name to a company’s environmental claims that we have not verified, and we will not participate in campaigns designed to give a misleading impression of a partner’s environmental credentials. Where we describe our own operational footprint, we do so in line with our Environmental Responsibility Policy and acknowledge honestly the limits of what a small organisation can achieve.

Appeals that feature or concern children require special care, because children are entitled to particular protection and cannot always consent to how they are portrayed. All fundraising that involves children — whether as the subject of an appeal, as participants in an activity, or as the focus of imagery — is conducted in accordance with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and our Photography, Media and Consent Policy.

We portray children with dignity and never in a way that is degrading, sensationalised or that could put a child at risk, for example by revealing identifying details or a precise location. We obtain informed consent from a parent or legal guardian (and, where appropriate, the child) before using a child’s image or story, we use such material only for the purpose consented to, and we stop using it if consent is withdrawn. We do not fabricate or exaggerate a child’s circumstances to increase donations.

We also take care in how we invite children and young people to give or to fundraise. We do not target donation appeals inappropriately at children, and where young people choose to fundraise for us, we ensure they do so safely, with appropriate adult oversight and within the protections of our safeguarding framework.

Most of our fundraising takes place online, and we apply the same ethical and legal standards to digital channels as to any other. Donations made through our website are processed by secure, reputable third-party payment providers, and we handle donor data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. We are transparent on our donation pages about who we are, how gifts are used, and the current status of our tax position.

When we fundraise through email, social media, search or third-party giving platforms, we ensure that our messaging is honest, that any partner or platform we use is reputable, and that we comply with the applicable rules on electronic communications and consent. We clearly identify fundraising content as coming from BeeCharity, we do not use misleading links or deceptive “dark patterns” to obtain gifts or consents, and we make it easy to give once without being enrolled in recurring giving by default.

We take reasonable steps to protect our digital fundraising from fraud and abuse, including monitoring for fraudulent transactions and unauthorised use of our name, and we work with our payment providers to investigate suspicious activity. Where we use analytics or advertising technologies, we do so only with the consent required by law and in line with our Cookie Policy, and we keep the personal data involved to the minimum necessary.

We are grateful for larger gifts from individuals, foundations and institutions, and we steward them with particular diligence. Before accepting a major gift, we consider its source, any conditions attached, and whether acceptance is consistent with our values and independence. We apply appropriate due diligence to significant or unusual gifts as part of our anti-money-laundering and anti-fraud controls, and we may decline or return a gift where its source is unclear or high-risk, where conditions would compromise our mission, or where acceptance would harm public trust.

Major gifts are frequently restricted to a particular purpose. Where this is the case, we agree the purpose clearly with the donor, account for the funds separately, and use them only as agreed, in line with our Donation and Refund Policy. We are honest with major donors about what can realistically be achieved, we do not offer benefits or recognition that would give a donor improper influence over our decisions, and we manage any resulting conflict of interest under our Conflicts of Interest Policy.

The acceptance of a significant major gift, and the terms of any associated agreement, are approved under our joint signing authority, so that two authorised representatives are involved. We keep proper records of major gifts and their conditions so that we can demonstrate that they have been used as intended.

Fundraising events — whether organised by us or by supporters on our behalf — are a valuable way to raise funds and build community, and they must be run safely, lawfully and honestly. For any event we organise that involves the public, and particularly where children or vulnerable people take part, we carry out a proportionate risk assessment and put appropriate health, safety and safeguarding measures in place, consistent with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

We are transparent at events about how much of the money raised will go to our charitable work, and we account for event income and costs accurately. Where an event is run by a third party or a volunteer in our name, we agree in advance how funds will be collected and passed to us, we provide guidance on using our name and materials appropriately, and we make clear that they must comply with this policy and with applicable local laws, including any permit or licensing requirements.

We ensure that any personal data collected at events (for example sign-up sheets or ticketing information) is handled in line with our Privacy Policy, and that payments taken at events are recorded and banked promptly under the financial controls set out in our Donation and Refund and Anti-Fraud policies.

Volunteers are central to our fundraising, and everyone who raises funds on our behalf represents BeeCharity to the public. All fundraising volunteers must act in accordance with this policy and with our Volunteer Policy and Code of Conduct, and must uphold the same standards of honesty, respect and integrity that apply to the organisation itself.

Before volunteers undertake fundraising — particularly any role involving handling money, contact with the public, or contact with children or vulnerable people — we provide appropriate guidance and induction, and we apply proportionate checks in line with our Safeguarding and Volunteer policies. Volunteers must not make claims about the association or its use of funds that go beyond approved messaging, must not apply pressure to potential donors, and must pass on all funds raised promptly and in full, keeping clear records.

We support our fundraising volunteers, are clear about what they may and may not do in our name, and remain responsible for their conduct when they are acting on our behalf. Where a volunteer is found to have fundraised dishonestly or unsafely, we will act promptly under the relevant policies, which may include ending their involvement and, where necessary, reporting the matter to the appropriate authorities.

We want everyone who supports us, or who is approached by us, to be able to raise a concern easily and to have it taken seriously. Anyone who believes that our fundraising has fallen short of the standards in this policy — for example that a communication was misleading, that they were treated with insufficient respect, or that an approach was inappropriate — is encouraged to tell us.

Complaints about fundraising are handled under our Complaints Policy. They can be raised using the contact details in the “Contact” chapter below or on our Complaints page. We will acknowledge the complaint, investigate it fairly and without defensiveness, explain the outcome, and use what we learn to improve. If a complainant remains dissatisfied, our Complaints Policy sets out how the concern can be escalated within the association to the board.

We record fundraising complaints and review them as part of our monitoring, so that recurring issues can be identified and addressed at their root. Complaints made in good faith will never disadvantage the person who raises them.

Responsibility for fundraising rests ultimately with the board of BeeCharity, which sets our fundraising strategy, approves this policy, and oversees the conduct of everyone who raises funds in our name. Day-to-day responsibility for fundraising and for the financial controls that support it sits with the Treasurer, working with the board.

Because BeeCharity operates with joint signing authority, any decision that formally commits the association — including adopting or materially amending this policy, entering significant fundraising or partnership agreements, and accepting or returning major gifts — requires two authorised representatives acting together. No single individual can bind the association or move funds alone. This structural control is a central protection against both financial misconduct and reputational risk in our fundraising.

Fundraising is conducted within the wider governance framework described on our Governance page and in our related policies, and conflicts of interest affecting fundraising decisions are declared and managed under our Conflicts of Interest Policy. The board is accountable for ensuring that our fundraising remains consistent with our charitable purpose and with the standards expected by our donors and by the validation programmes we rely on.

We monitor our fundraising to ensure that it is effective, lawful and consistent with this policy. This includes keeping accurate records of funds raised and the costs of raising them, tracking restricted appeals against the purposes for which the money was given, and reviewing fundraising communications for accuracy before and after they are published.

We also monitor the outcomes of our fundraising activities, any complaints or concerns received, and any incidents of suspected fraud or misuse, and we report significant matters to the board. Where monitoring reveals a shortcoming — whether a misleading claim, a control weakness or a pattern of complaints — we act to correct it and to prevent recurrence, and we record the lessons learned.

The information gathered through monitoring supports the transparency we owe to our donors and to the due-diligence and validation partners who assess us, enabling us to demonstrate that our fundraising is honest, proportionate and well controlled.

This policy was formally adopted by the board and is reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there is a relevant change in Swiss or applicable foreign law, in recognised fundraising standards, in the requirements of the validation programmes we rely on, in our payment providers or partners, or in the nature and scale of our activities.

Any material change to this policy is approved under our joint signing authority. The version and status shown at the top of this page reflect its current standing as a policy formally adopted by the board, and we will update the version history when it is adopted or amended.

If you have any question about this policy or about how we fundraise, or if you wish to raise a concern, please contact us and we will be glad to help.

Fundraising and partnerships: beecharity1@gmail.com

Donations: beecharity1@gmail.com

General enquiries: beecharity1@gmail.com

Postal address: "bee Charity" Verein, c/o Jasmin Semra Gabrielli, Bahnhofstrasse 33, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland