CAC Code of Conduct

A code of conduct is a set of principles or values that guide the actions of the organization and its people. The purpose of adopting a code of conduct is to provide the officers and volunteers with guidelines for ethical behavior and decision making.

 

I. Personal and Professional Integrity

All officers and volunteers of the organization act with honesty, integrity, and transparency in all their dealings with each other and as representatives of the organization. The organization promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness, integrity, and collaboration.

 

II. Support of Mission

The organization has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved by the officers, in pursuit of the public good. All of its programs support that mission and all officers and volunteers who work for or on behalf of the organization understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. This understanding and loyalty extends to the use of social media platforms to promote CAC’s mission. The mission and purpose are responsive to the communities served by the organization and are of value to the society at large.

 

III. Governance and Accountability

The organization has an active president, secretary, and treasurer who are responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organization. The officers:

  • Exercise reasonable care, good faith, loyalty and due diligence in organizational affairs;

  • Have a conflict-of-interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof are avoided or appropriately managed for the protection and benefit of the organization;

  • Ensure that the organization conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;

  • Ensure that the organization promotes working relationships with CAC officers, volunteers, and other community organizations, government agencies, and political representatives that are based on mutual respect, fairness, and openness;

  • Ensure that the resources of the organization are responsibly and prudently managed; an

  • Ensure that the organization has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.

IV. Legal Compliance

The organization is knowledgeable of and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

V. Financial Stewardship

The organization manages its funds responsibly and prudently. This includes the following considerations:

  • It spends a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuit of its mission;

  • It spends an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, and other expenditures critical to professional management;

  • It ensures that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable, and appropriate to fulfill the mission of the organization; and,

  • It ensures that financial reports are complete and accurate in all material respects.

 

VI. Transparency and Disclosure

The organization provides comprehensive and timely information to the public and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about the organization will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the organization. All data collected by CAC volunteers is for CAC’s use and can be disclosed only by the officers.

 

VII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

The organization takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness and diversity in its policies, actions, and constituencies served.

 

VIII. Fundraising

In raising funds from the public, organizations will respect the rights of donors, as follows:

  • To be informed of the mission of the organization, the way the resources will be used and its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes;

  • 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 the extent provided by the law;

  • To expect that all interactions with individuals representing the organization will be professional in nature;

  • To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that the organization maintains; and

  • To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.