Donation Policy

1. PREAMBLE

The policy presented in this document defines the rules governing the acceptance and treatment of donations and sponsorships from Atlas regardless of the nature of these donations. This procedure ensures that any donor who makes a donation is treated fairly and receives the service to which they are entitled according to the type of contribution and the laws in force on charities.

The fundraising department is responsible for reviewing the Policy.

2. VALUES AND PRINCIPLES OF ATLAS UNDERLYING POLICY

This policy is based on one of the values put forward by the organization, namely: democracy, human rights and freedoms (including LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights etc), free, fair & sustainable economy, solidarity, and ecologism.

3. ETHICS

The policy sets the ethical standards that guide Atlas in all of its activities: the acceptance of donations and sponsorships, their handling, management of funds, donor relations, and of course, donor rights. Atlas does not accept donations that could harm its integrity and reputation, its freedom of action or expose itself to unnecessary risks or responsibilities.

4. BASIC PRINCIPLES

Donations must be used to support the mission as well as to achieve the vision and goals of Atlas. It must ensure that any solicitation is made according to its priority needs. Donations must allow Atlas to financially support the organization so that it can accomplish its mission.

Atlas is responsible for issuing official receipts.

The board of directors designates the person having the right to sign any donation agreement. Only staff and the fundraising committee and members appointed by management are authorized to solicit donations. Atlas keeps an official register of all donations received.

5. POLICY ENFORCEMENT

When the situation so requires, in the case of a donation likely to be burdensome for Atlas, such as for real estate, the management team of Atlas submits the donation proposal for consideration of the fundraising committee to make an appropriate recommendation to the Board of Directors regarding the acceptance of the donation.

6. FEES RELATED TO ACCEPTANCE

In case of a material donation, Atlas expects the donor to cover the costs associated with accepting a donation by Atlas and issuing an official receipt, which includes the evaluation of the costs; these costs will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of the donated property rather than charged to other funds or general operating expenses of Atlas, including costs associated with the maintenance and sale of the property.

Atlas will need to determine whether this aspect will be adopted as a strict rule or simply as a guideline.

7. DONOR RIGHTS

All donors (individuals, corporations, and foundations) can obtain an official receipt, for income tax purposes, of the amount of the donation (see section 9 .6 “ Processing of donations and recording of donations ”). In the case of non-monetary donations (or in-kind donations), donors can obtain an official receipt that reflects the fair market value of the donation, as assessed by a professional third party. The board of directors of Atlas may also set a minimum amount for the purposes of automatically issuing receipts, a receipt then only be issued upon request for donations below the determined minimum.
All fundraising solicitations by or on behalf of Atlas must state the name of the organization and the purpose of the fundraising. Written requests (regardless of the means of transmission) must also indicate the address and other contact details enabling Atlas to be reached.
Current and potential donors are promptly entitled to the following documents, upon request:
- the latest annual report and the latest financial statements adopted by the board of directors of Atlas;
- the legal details pertaining to the organization
- the list of the members of the board of directors of Atlas.
Current and potential donors have the right to know, upon request, whether the person soliciting funds on behalf of Atlas is a volunteer, employee, or contract solicitor.
Donors will be encouraged to seek the advice of a third party if Atlas has reason to believe that a potential donation could materially affect their financial position, taxable income or relationships with other members of their family.
Donors who request anonymity will have their requests honored.
The privacy of donors will be respected. Where applicable, donor records kept by Atlas will be kept confidential to the extent possible. Donors can view their own records and challenge their accuracy.
If Atlas exchanges, rents or otherwise shares its lists of current and potential donors with other organizations, any request by a donor to be excluded from the list will be honored.
Current and potential donors will be treated with respect. Every effort will be made to respond to their requests in order to :
- limit the frequency of solicitations;
- not to be solicited by telephone or any other technological means;
- to receive printed materials relating to Atlas .
Atlas will promptly respond to any complaints made by current and potential donors regarding any matter addressed in this policy. A designated staff member or volunteer will attempt to answer the complainant's questions first. A complainant whose request is not met will be informed that he may appeal in writing to the board of directors of Atlas or his designated representative and that he will be informed in writing of the decision.

8. ELIGIBILITY

1. Donations

Donations made in the following forms are accepted:

Donations in cash or cash equivalents (method of payment in cash, by checks and credit cards, selected cryptocurrencies);
Securities, stocks, and bonds (according to the value traded on the public markets);
Tangible material goods and real estate;
Donations made in the form of services are eligible if Atlas considers that they are useful for carrying out the activities it pursues or supports. However, donations made in the form of services do not qualify for an official receipt for tax purposes.

2. Donations with conditions

Subject to valid reasons for refusal Atlas accepts capitalized donations and dedicated donations, considering them as donations subject to conditions.

3. Donations with terms of engagement

Subject to valid reasons for refusal Atlas accepts pledges and the deferred part of planned donations, considering them as donations with terms of engagement.

4. Sponsorships

Atlas agrees to sponsorship only in the context of events - benefits that are under its responsibility. According to the policy and following a collaboration or service exchange agreement, the sponsors might receive visibility.

5. Acceptance of donations and recognition

Atlas accepts a donation when it is not conditional on any benefit, advantage or consideration other than a charitable receipt for the donor.

Atlas has established a program to provide recognition to these donors. This program does not commit the recipients of donations from Atlas. Policies mark out recognition vis-à-vis donors and visibility for sponsors. (see section 11 “ Donor recognition ”).

6. Processing of donations and accounting for donations

Each eligible donation received by Atlas will be subject to the issuance of an official tax receipt (as explained in section 8 “ Donor rights ”) unless a donor specifically indicates that he does not wish to receive any. Charitable receipts will be issued for the year in which the donations were received and at the amount of the value of the donation received or the amount of the estimated fair market value of the donation received Receipts are returned to the name from the donor only. To donate by credit card, the receipt will be put in the name of the cardholder.

All donations received by Atlas during the course of a specific campaign are counted in the results of that same campaign for which the period will extend from the official launch of the latter until the official closing event.

9. CATEGORIES OF DONATIONS

1. Cash donations

This type of donation can be made in cash, by check, by credit card, by money order, by bank draft or wire transfer, by payroll deduction, by an annuity, or by selected cryptocurrency. An official tax receipt will be re-marketed on the date the donation is received.

2. Donation of property in kind

A donation of movable or immovable property is likely to have a fair market value at the time the property is donated. Once the donation is completed, the property becomes the entire property of Atlas :

real estate: depreciable property such as a commercial, residential or professional building;
tangible movable good: good to be used in the form in which it was made, such as equipment, work of art, historical object, archives, specimens, good to be resold;
intangible movable property: copyright, patent or other intellectual right, securities (share, obligation), insurance policy.

Any donation requiring additional and substantial expenses or major adaptations to the management of the Investment Policy. It requires the acceptance of the fundraising committee.

In the absence of a recognized market value, if the value of the donation is more than $ 1,000, an appraisal by an independent appraiser is required. In some cases, a second assessment may be required by Atlas. An official tax receipt will be reset at fair market value on the date the donation is received.

3. Donation of services

Atlas accepts if it deems it useful for its activities, a contribution in services. However, contributions of service, either time, skill, or effort, do not qualify as gifts for the purpose of issuing official tax receipts. Therefore Atlas cannot issue an official donation receipt for services rendered without charge. Atlas can issue an official donation receipt if a person provides a service. Atlas pays for the service and then returns the amount to Atlas as a donation. In these circumstances, two transactions occurred, the first being the provision of services and the resulting payment, and the second being the donation itself.

4. Capitalization

A donation is capitalized when only the interest or part of the interest generated by the capital investment is spent each year. Part of the interest on the investment is used to finance the supported project while the other part is reinvested in the capital in order to preserve its value over the years. The capitalization must be expressly requested and signed by the donor for a minimum period of 10 years in a commitment form, a protocol, or a capitalization form. It can be for the entire donation or for part of it. Bequests and donations of life insurance policies leading to the creation of an endowment fund will also be capitalized.

The organization must determine a priori whether the bequests and donations of life insurance policies lead to the creation of an endowment fund and therefore to the capitalization of the sums.

5. Donation not intended for special purposes

In the absence of guidance from the donor as to the destination and use of the gift, the gift will be the priority of Atlas and used in the best way possible, in accordance with its objectives and responsibilities.

6. Donation for specific purposes

If the donor intends their donation for a specific existing component, Atlas will be responsible for ensuring that the donation will be used in accordance with the objectives of this component and, to the extent possible, in accordance with the intended use by the donor. If the donor intends his donation for specific purposes, which do not correspond to an already existing component, Atlas must ensure, if the purposes intended by the donor are acceptable and the amount justifies it, that a particular project is set up.

7. Donations accepted with intent to sell

Atlas will sell this asset and invest the proceeds of the sale as soon as possible. In general, donations of goods with intent to sell are accepted on the condition that they are immediately marketable. Donations of tangible movable property must be of sufficient value to cover the costs of storage, maintenance, sale, and administration.

The value of the charitable receipt issued in exchange for an in-kind donation will respect the principle of fair market value. If the fair market value of the property is deemed to be less than or equal to $ 1,000, a person designated by Atlas, having sufficient knowledge of the property, may determine its value.

If the fair market value is deemed to be greater than $ 1,000, the property will be appraised by a third party, that is, a person unrelated to the donor or to Atlas and whose competence and qualifications are recognized by the authorities. two parts. The charitable receipt will then include the name and address of the appraiser.

8. Donations in kind preserved for use by Atlas

Furniture, equipment, medical supplies, software and computer hardware are examples of in-kind donations that Atlas may possibly accept. Unless the fundraising committee advises otherwise, any donation of real estate or movable property will be considered a donation of property with intent to sell.

10. Corporate donation

Considering the mission of Atlas, it reserves the right to refuse a financial contribution or a contribution in goods from a company whose work is not aligned with Atlas’ mission, especially:

Company deriving a significant portion of its income (more than 30% of total income) from the manufacture, promotion, distribution, or sale of oil and non-renewable gas
Company deriving a significant portion of its income (more than 30% of total income) from the manufacture, distribution, or sale of armaments.
Any other company that appears to directly contradict the values promoted by Atlas, such as those using forced labor, child labor, and violating in their operations human rights at a significant scale.

11. Donation of shares

Atlas also reserves the right to refuse a donation of shares from a company working in the following sectors of activity :

Company deriving a significant portion of its income (more than 30% of total income) from the manufacture, promotion, distribution, or sale of oil and non-renewable gas
Company deriving a significant portion of its income (more than 30% of total income) from the manufacture, distribution, or sale of armaments.
Company evading taxes,
Any other company that appears to directly contradict the values promoted by Atlas, such as those using forced labor, child labor, and violating in their operations human rights at a significant scale.

12. DONOR RECOGNITION

Atlas is prepared to provide the donor with a level of recognition equivalent to that granted to donors who have made a donation of equivalent value, subject to similar performance conditions and restrictions.

13. ETHICS AND CASES OF REFUSAL

Under no circumstances is Atlas required to accept a donation that is offered to it. In particular, Atlas reserves the right to refuse a financial contribution or a contribution in goods in the following cases:

a contribution which, in the opinion of Atlas, could compromise its autonomy, integrity or mission;
a contribution granted with a view to exerting an undue influence on the process of awarding contracts of Atlas or institutions linked to the organization;
a contribution granted with a view to obtaining an undue advantage from Atlas ;
a contribution which would restrict the freedom of thought or action of Atlas ;
a contribution contrary to law or public order or which could damage the reputation of Atlas due to the legally or morally reprehensible activities of the donor;
a contribution for which the donor cannot establish the legitimacy of the source of the sums being the subject;
a contribution in goods with which an environmental risk would be associated;
a contribution in property the possession of which could cause controversy;
a contribution which could lead to any form of unlawful discrimination;
a contribution which, in the opinion of Atlas, would not be in accordance with its policies;
a contribution whose conditions ensure that the donor retains undue control over the use and management of the sums donated;
a donation for which consideration, other than appropriate recognition, is expected in return;
a donation that ensures that the donor directly determines the recipient, without an appropriate selection mechanism or an acceptable administrative framework;
a contribution that gives rise to financial or other obligations that are deemed inappropriate or disadvantageous for Atlas ;
a contribution which, in the opinion of Atlas, would not be useful to the latter;
likelihood that the value of the property will be contested;
possibility that the good cannot be sold within a reasonable time ;

14. FUNDRAISING PRACTICES

Solicitations made for fundraising purposes on behalf of Atlas must :
- be truthful;
- accurately describe the activities of Atlas and the intended use of donated funds;
- respect the dignity and privacy of the people who benefit from the organization's activities.
Volunteers, staff, and contract solicitors who solicit or receive funds on behalf of Atlas must :
- respect the provisions of this policy relative to the acceptance and processing of donations ;
- act with honesty, integrity and in accordance with all relevant laws;
- comply with the relevant provisions of professional codes of ethics, standards of practice, etc .;
- stop soliciting a potential donor who views the solicitation as harassment or undue pressure;
- immediately declare to Atlas any real or apparent conflict of interest;
- not accept any donation for purposes incompatible with the objectives or mission of Atlas.
Paid fundraisers, whether employees or consultants, are remunerated on the basis of salaries, provisions for services to be rendered (" retainers ") or fees, but are not entitled to bonuses. 'intermediation (" finder's fees "), commissions or other forms of payment calculated on the number of donations received or on the amount of funds collected. Remuneration policies fundraisers, including performance-based remuneration (such as salary increases or bonuses), will be consistent with the policies and practices of Atlas that apply to personnel not to fundraising.
Atlas will not sell its donor list. Where applicable, renting, swapping or any other form of sharing from the organization's donor list should exclude the names of donors who have requested it (as provided in section 8 " Donor Rights " ). If the list of Atlas donors is exchanged, rented, or shared by other means with another organization, the sharing will be for a fixed period and a specific objective.
The board of directors of Atlas will be informed at least annually of the number, type, and resolution of current donors or potential complaints relative to questions addressed in this Code of Ethics on the collection of funds and financial accountability.

15. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The financial affairs of Atlas will be managed in a responsible manner, in accordance with ethical management obligations and legal requirements of the relevant UK tax authorities.
All donations will be used to meet the objectives of Atlas.
Donations that are restricted or designated for special purposes will be used for the purposes for which they were made. Should it be necessary to change the allocation of funds due to program changes or organizational changes, other allocations will be considered, to the extent possible, with the donor or their legal counsel. If no agreement can be reached with the donor or their legal counsel regarding other possible uses of a restricted or special purpose donation, Atlas will return the unused portion of the donation. If the donor is deceased or legally incompetent and that Atlas is unable to contact the claimant or their legal counsel, the donation will be used in the most consistent manner possible with the original intentions of the donor.
Annual financial reports :
- be based on facts and correct in all material respects;
- will state:
  - the total amount of income from fundraising (with or without tax receipts);
  - the total amount of fundraising costs (including salaries and overheads);
  - show government grants and contributions separately from other donations;
- will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards in all material respects.
Only funds necessary for efficient management and development of resources will be allocated for administration and fundraising.
The Board of Directors will regularly review the profitability and effectiveness of Atlas' fundraising program.

For any questions or feedback, please reach out to our Team at [email protected]