United Way Waterloo Region Communities is dedicated to transparency, and accountability to all of our stakeholders. Please see our policies below and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 519-888-6100 or info@uwaywrc.ca.
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View United Way Centraide statement opposing racism.
As we watch, read and listen to events unfolding south of Canada’s border we must recognize, that as a community, Waterloo Region is not immune to the same issues. Racism in Canada is unignorable and we need to acknowledge that there is more than one problem and there must be more than one solution. We cannot claim that things are different here.
United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) realizes that as an organization we must step back, listen, learn, and work harder toward undoing the devastating effects of systemic racism. United is in our name and we want to ensure we stand behind that and beside all those who want to make a difference.
“We must listen to our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) community and let them inform, instruct and change us,” said Joan Fisk, UWWRC CEO.
These are easy words to say but harder to live by. For those who are not part of a BIPOC community, our experiences can be very different to others.
The events of the past weeks remind us again that systemic racism is a form of violence. It attacks directly and physically, and it attacks the very idea of equality and opportunity. We see the effects of racism every day in our communities through the racialization of poverty that has taken hold over generations, and in the disproportionate health impact of COVID-19 on black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities.
The vision of United Way Waterloo Region Communities is to live in in a place where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We strive to eradicate poverty and social exclusion by bringing people together, creating opportunity for people to show love for their community, and by investing in the essential community services that help bridge the gap between potential and opportunity. We are committed to diversity as a core value, and we know we have much work to do to ensure we are creating an inclusive world, that we are learning with and alongside our communities, and that our staff and volunteers reflect the community we live in and love. We are committed to continuing this work – today and tomorrow.
Today we stand for hope, we stand for equity, and we stand as United Ways and Centraides in solidarity with all the people who live in Canada, our American neighbours and caring people across the world that are demonstrating for an end to racism, inequity and injustice in all its forms.
Please note: portions of this statement are taken from June 4, 2020 Blog post by Dan Clement, United Way Centraide President & CEO.
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 they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- 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.
- 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.
- To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
- 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 law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
United Way Waterloo Region Communities is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals, corporations and clients by complying with all applicable privacy legislation as it affects its employees, volunteers, donors and agencies.
We understand that corporate and individual donors care about confidentiality of personal information and that the protection of personal information is a good business practice. To this end, we strive to protect the confidentiality of all personal information we collect and use.
Under the terms of our Privacy Policy, a member of our senior management team is responsible for ensuring the following practices:
- The purpose for collecting personal and/or corporate information will be identified at or before the information is collected.
- When personal or corporate information is to be used for a purpose other than the original intent, consent of the individual or representative of the corporation will be obtained.
- Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than for which it was collected.
- Personal information shall be accurate, complete and up-to-date.
- Upon written request, an individual or corporation shall be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of personal information and given access to that information.
- Personal and corporate information will not be published without consent.
- The collection of personal and/or corporate information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes of United Way WRC.
- Access to sensitive personal and corporate information will be limited to senior staff members.
- Personal and/or corporate information will be removed from any mailing lists at the request of the individual or representative of the corporation.
- Complaints regarding safeguarding, accuracy, consent, disclosure, retention, destruction, use or access to personal and/or corporate information will be directed to the Privacy Officer.
- All complaints will be investigated and responses provided in a timely manner. United Way WRC will take appropriate measures to correct information and/or information-handling procedures, practices and procedures.
- All staff and volunteers will be trained to ensure accurate and consistent implementation of the privacy policy and practices.
- The Privacy Policy and practices will be integrated into staff training and volunteer orientation.
- All staff, Board of Directors and Committee Volunteers must read and sign an agreement of confidentiality.
- Each year, United Way Waterloo Region Communities shall conduct a privacy audit to ensure that the above practices are being implemented.
For more information about United Way Waterloo Region Communities privacy policies and practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:
Joan Fisk, CEO (jfisk@uwaywrc.ca)
519-888-6100
For more information about the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Privacy Act, please contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca.