Advancement Research

Each Prospect Researcher at the University of Georgia Foundation is a member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) and its state chapter. We thereby hold ourselves to the APRA Statement of Ethics in the conduct of our jobs.

APRA Statement of Ethics

As representatives of the profession, Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) members shall be respectful of all people and organizations. They shall support and further the individual's fundamental right to privacy. APRA members are committed to the ethical collection and use of information in the pursuit of legitimate institutional goals.

Code of Ethics

In their work, prospect researchers must balance the needs of their institutions/organizations to collect and record information with the prospects' right to privacy. This balance is not always easy to maintain. However, the following ethical principles apply:

Fundamental Principles

Relevance - Prospect researchers shall seek and record only information that is relevant to the fund raising effort of the institutions that employ them.
Honesty - Prospect researchers shall be truthful with regard to their identity, purpose and the identity of their institution during the course of their work.
Confidentiality - Confidential information pertaining to donors or prospective donors shall be scrupulously protected so that the relationship of trust between donor and donee and the integrity of the prospect research professional is upheld.
Accuracy - Prospect researchers shall record all data accurately. Such information must be verifiable or attributable to its source.

Procedures

Collection

The collection and use of information shall be done lawfully.
Information sought and recorded may include all public records.
Written requests for public information shall be made on institutional stationery clearly identifying the sender.
Whenever possible, payments for public records shall be made through the institution.
When requesting information in person or by telephone, neither individual nor institutional identity shall be concealed.

Recording

Researchers shall state information in an objective and factual manner.
Documents pertaining to donors or prospective donors shall be irreversibly disposed of when no longer needed (e.g., by shredding).

Use

Non-public information is the property of the institution for which it was collected and shall not be given to persons other than those who are involved with the cultivation or solicitation effort or those who need that information in the performance of their duties for that institution.
Only public or published information may be shared with colleagues at other institutions as a professional courtesy.
Prospect information is the property of the institution for which it was gathered and shall not be taken to another institution.
Prospect information shall be stored securely to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
Research documents containing donor or prospective donor information that are to be used outside research offices shall be clearly marked "confidential".
Special protection shall be afforded all giving record taining to anonymous donors.

Recommendations

Prospect researchers shall urge their institutions to develop written policies based upon the laws of their state defining what information shall be gathered and under what conditions it may be released and to whom.
Prospect researchers shall urge the development of written policies at their institutions defining who may authorize access to prospect files and under what conditions.
Prospect researchers shall urge their colleagues to abide by these principles of conduct.