The Ethics & Compliance Manual is designed to be used as both a checklist and a catalyst for discussion for OWS DF staff to review, reflect, and discuss core principles, standards and ways of conducting services and activities.
1) Guiding Principles: An OWS DF has the following principles: Responsibility; Service, and Public Mindednes; Cooperation Beyond Boundaries; Human Rights and Dignity; Religious Freedom; Transparency and Accountability; Truthfulness and Legality.
2) Integrity: An OWS DF is not-for-profit, nongovernmental, organized, independent, self-governing, and voluntary.
3) Mission & Activities: An OWS DF’s mission statement is available to all its staff, partners, donors, program beneficiaries, and the public in general. The mission is to serve as the foundation for strategic planning and as the blueprint for its activities. The activities are consistent with the mission, effective and efficient, and Feedback sought from beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
4) Governance: An OWS DF has an effective governance structure and a strong, active, and committed governing body.
5) Human Resources: An OWS-DF normally seeks qualified staff, offers them proper training and supervision, treats them fairly and equitably, and provides them with avenues for individual growth and development.
6) Public Trust: An OWS-DF usually exhibits genuine public accountability and transparency and is honest in the information that it makes available to the public
7) Financial and Legal: An OWS-DF has proper financial and legal procedures and safeguards in place, not only to stay within the law but also as a measure of the organization’s health and to assure donors, members, and the general public that investments in the organization are safe and being correctly used.
8) Fundraising: To fund their operational and program costs and reach their objectives, most OWS-DF raise funds from outside their organization by seeking voluntary financial support from foundations, corporations, individual donors, and government agencies.
9) Partnerships, Collaboration, and Networking: When appropriate, OWS-DF may find that cooperation with other civil society organizations, government and intergovernmental agencies, and for-profit corporations may be beneficial in advancing their mission-related objectives