Donor Policies

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization incorporated in the State of Maine. We are fully committed to our donors' privacy and subscribe to the “Donor’s Bill of Rights.”

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

In addition to our website visitor privacy policy {insert hyperlink}, Bigelow Laboratory guards the confidentiality of donors' personal information. We will not trade, share, or sell a donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations. Our donors' information is fully protected irrespective of donation method (online, by mail, etc.).

A Donor's Bill of Rights

This Bill of Rights for charitable givers was developed by the Association of Financial Professionals (AFP), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and The Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits. It is industry-accepted and all quality charities should subscribe to the beliefs espoused here.

"Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes that they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers."

Click here to view a copy of our Gift Acceptance Policy