As an employee/volunteer of the Gift of Adoption Fund (GOA), I have an obligation to the organization I serve, to the general public, and to myself to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. I will neither commit acts contrary to these standards nor will I condone the commission of such acts by others within the Organization. I have a responsibility to:
Confidentiality
• Keep confidential information confidential unless legally obligated to do otherwise.
• Refrain from using or appearing to use confidential information acquired in the course of my service for unethical or illegal advantage either personally or through third parties.
Conflict of Interest
• Avoid direct or indirect, actual or apparent, conflicts of interest and advise all appropriate parties of any potential conflict, e.g.:
a. A GOA representative’s personal business provides goods or services to GOA for consideration.
b. A friend or relative of GOA representative provides goods or services to GOA for consideration.
c. A vendor or business acquaintance with which a GOA representative has an outside business relationship provides goods or services to the GOA for consideration.
• Refrain from engaging in any activity that would prejudice my ability or the ability of others to carry out duties ethically.
• Refuse any gift, favor, or hospitality that would influence or would appear to influence my actions or the actions of others, e.g. a GOA representative receives a referral fee or preferential discount, gift, or other valuable consideration from a vendor, paid promoter, fundraising event sponsor, or any other outside party, for referring Gift of Adoption business to such party.
• Refrain from engaging in electoral political activity, except for on a personal basis, provided the activities do not conflict with my ability to carry out GOA responsibilities or create confusion between positions or actions that are taken by me personally versus as a GOA representative.
• In the event any member of the National Grant Selection Committee, National or Chapter Board of Directors, staff, or any other person engaged in the determination of grant awards has a relationship with a Grant Applicant, whether personal or professional, that member must excuse him/herself from the decision making related to that applicant’s grant request.
Ethics
• Refrain from violating any criminal or civil law or regulation.
• Disclose if I have ever been party to or convicted of any felony or crime of moral depravity.
• Refrain from either actively or passively subverting the attainment of GOA’s legitimate and ethical objectives.
• Refrain from engaging in or supporting any activity that would discredit GOA.
• Perform my duties in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, GOA policies and standards.
• Represent the interests of all people served by GOA and not favor special interests inside or outside the organization.
Public Speaking
We honor the deeply personal nature of adoption and the many motivations that move individuals to adopt, become involved in the cause and/or financially support Gift of Adoption. In recognition of the unique inspiration and circumstances surrounding each adoption, our organizational culture reflects a profound commitment to honoring the diversity of experiences and motivations of all we are privileged to know and work with. To reinforce this important dimension of our culture, our board has established the following policy guidelines that apply to those speaking publicly on Gift of Adoption’s behalf.
Gift of Adoption grants are awarded without regard to an applicant’s race, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation.
We highly value and respect our diverse population of families, volunteers, donors and supporters. We ask that anyone speaking publicly on our behalf to show respect for Gift of Adoption’s non-discriminatory grant making policy, even if it clashes with that person’s personal beliefs, political affiliations or expression of faith.
By agreeing to speak on behalf of GOA, the potential speaker agrees to share personal stories and motivations while avoiding partisan political statements or using the opportunity to evangelize for anything other than the cause of adoption.
*****NOTE*****
Before you can be placed on a Chapter Board, you must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check.
After clicking submit, you will be redirected to a Criminal Background Check authorization form. Please download, complete, print, and sign this form and return to Shaneetra Gross:
email: sgross@giftofadoption.org
fax: 847.378.4547
Mail: Gift of Adoption Fund
Attn: Shaneetra
PO Box 567
Techny, IL 60082
Volunteer or Staff Acceptance Policy:
Due to the nature of our work, we require all Staff, Chapter Board, and National Board candidates to submit to a criminal background check at the time of placement. Staff and National Board Members must submit to a background check every 3 years of service.
It is Gift of Adoption’s policy to not place anyone into a volunteer or staff role if he or she has been convicted of a violent and / or felonious crime or a crime involving moral depravity.
Gift of Adoption will not proceed with or will immediately discharge any volunteer convicted of the aforementioned crimes and reserves the right to refuse any staff or volunteer with a criminal history if it is not in line with the best interest of Gift of Adoption’s needs, mission or values.