Why you need to consider ethics 

As an artist or arts organisation, you need to consider ethics when receiving gifts. This is to protect your reputation and integrity. 

Sources of funding are under increasing public scrutiny, so you need to weigh up the benefits with the potential costs. 

How to make ethical gift decisions 

Ask yourself these questions before you accept a philanthropic gift: 

• What’s the donor’s ethical record?
• Will accepting this gift meet your community’s expectations of you?
• How will accepting this gift impact your collaborators or supporters? 
• Does a relationship with this supporter align with your mission, values and principles?
• What are the risks of accepting the gift? 

Gift acceptance policies  

If you’re an organisation, you should have a written gift acceptance policy.  

 The policy needs to: 

• set clear conditions for what gifts the organisation will and won’t accept
• state that the organisation can refuse gifts
• be approved by the board. 

 What to consider when developing a policy 

Think about: 

• the potential risks when accepting gifts
• the organisation’s values and goals 
• any legal, financial or operational burdens that come with the gift, such as managing a bequest or dealing with an estate.