|
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
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.
XI.
Procedures in the event of allegations of violation of
ethical codes of conduct
1.
Employee
reports suspected fraudulent activity or other improper conduct to an
Executive. In the event that an Executive is suspected to be involved or has
not taken appropriate action, the employee is expected to contact the Board
President.
2.
The Executive
or Board President will determine if further investigation is warranted and who
should appropriately conduct the investigation.
3.
If an
investigation is warranted, it shall be initiated within a reasonable amount of
time, not to exceed 10 working days, and documented.
4.
Upon
completion of the investigation the Executive or the Board of Directors will
determine appropriate corrective actions based on the report findings and
recommendations, up to and including discharge, and legal action when warranted.
(rev 12/2010)
|
