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I.
Mission
Village Community Services has
a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the board of directors. All
of its programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the
organization understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission
is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the organization and
of value to the society at large.
II.
Service to Participants
The following values inform and
guide the organization’s program services:
·
Each participant
is an individual of inherent value and fully worthy of respect.
·
Each participant
is a U.S. resident and, as such, enjoys the rights, responsibilities and
freedoms accorded to all others living in the United States.
·
Each participant
has capacity and competence upon which they must be afforded the opportunity for
choice, decision-making and personal empowerment.
III.
Personal and Professional Integrity
All staff, board members and
volunteers of Village Community Services act with honesty, integrity and
openness in all their dealings as representatives of the organization. VCS
promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness, dignity,
cooperation, teamwork, integrity and excellence.
IV.
Governance
Village Community Services has
an active Board of Directors that is responsible for setting the mission and
strategic direction of the organization and has oversight of the finances,
operations, and policies of the organization. The Board of Directors:
·
Ensures that its
board members have the requisite skills and experience to carry out their duties
and that all members understand and fulfill their governance duties;
·
Has a conflicts
of interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance
thereof are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal or
other means;
·
Is responsible
for the hiring, firing, and regular review of the performance of the Executive
Director and/or Administrators, and ensures that the compensation of those
employees is reasonable and appropriate;
·
Ensures that the
ED, Administrators and appropriate staff provide the Board with timely and
comprehensive information so that the Board can effectively carry out its
duties;
·
Ensures that VCS
conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
·
Ensures that VCS
promotes working relationships with board members, staff, volunteers and program
beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness and openness;
·
Ensures that VCS
is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all
board, staff and volunteer positions;
·
Ensures that
policies of VCS are in writing, clearly articulated and officially adopted;
·
Ensures that the
resources of VCS are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
·
Ensures that VCS
has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.
V.
Legal Compliance
Village Community Services is
knowledgeable of and complies with the letter and spirit of all laws,
regulations, agreements or requirements that govern its operations and
activities. Competent legal counsel is sought when legal questions arise.
VI.
Responsible Stewardship
Village Community Services
manages its assets responsibly and prudently. This includes the following
considerations:
·
VCS spends a
reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuance of its
mission;
·
VCS spends an
adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting
systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to
professional management;
·
VCS compensates
staff reasonably and appropriately;
·
VCS incurs a
reasonable level of fundraising costs to help increase and diversify revenue
streams;
·
VCS does not
accumulate operating funds excessively;
·
Endowment funds
of the organization are prudently drawn from consistent with donor intent and to
support the organization’s public purpose;
·
VCS ensures that
all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable and appropriate to
fulfill its mission;
·
All financial
reports are factually accurate and complete in all material respects; and,
·
The physical
assets of the organization are duly recorded and safeguarded to prevent theft,
fraudulent use and premature decay or degradation. Personal use of agency
assets by employees and volunteers is strictly prohibited.
VII.
Openness and Disclosure
All information about the
organization will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the
organization. Basic informational data about the organization, such as the Form
990 and audited financial statements, is readily available for public inspection
and the organization is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for
information. All solicitation materials accurately represent the policies and
practices of VCS and will reflect the dignity of program beneficiaries. All
financial, organizational and program reports will be complete and accurate in
all material respects. All staff members are encouraged to review the
organization’s monthly budget reports and to take an active role in controlling
costs and increasing revenues.
VIII.
Program Evaluation
Village Community Services
regularly reviews program effectiveness and has mechanisms to incorporate
lessons learned into future programs. VCS is committed to improving program and
organizational effectiveness and strives for excellence. It values innovation,
ingenuity and creativity in finding new and more effective and efficient ways to
fulfill its mission and purpose. VCS seeks input from, and strives to be
responsive to, its stakeholders.
IX.
Inclusiveness and Diversity
Village Community Services has
an adopted policy of non-discrimination towards its employees and participants.
Inclusiveness is a core value that drives the organization’s mission of service
and advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The organization
believes that a broader perspective, increased awareness and cultural enrichment
are gained by having a staff and board that reflect diversity.
X.
Fundraising
As a fundraising organization,
VCS uses solicitation materials that are truthful. The organization respects
the privacy concerns of individual donors and expends funds consistent with
donor intent. VCS discloses important and relevant information to potential
donors. In raising funds from the public, VCS will respect the rights of
donors, as follows:
·
To be informed of
the mission of VCS, the way the resources will be used and VCS’ capacity to use
donations effectively for their intended purposes;
·
To be informed of
the identity of those serving on the Board of Directors and to expect the board
to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;
·
To have access to
the organization’s most recent financial reports;
·
To be assured
their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
·
To receive
appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;
·
To be assured
that information about their donations is handled with respect and with
confidentiality;
·
To expect that
all relationships with individuals representing the interests of VCS to the
donor will be professional in nature;
·
To be informed
whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of VCS or hired
solicitors;
·
To have the
opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists; and,
·
To feel free to
ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and
forthright answers.
(rev 7/2008)
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