SAIF

Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising
Constitution: Sections 1-6

This page contains information and extracts from SAIF's Constitution. Paragraph numbers refer to paragraph numbers in the printed version of the constitution. New members automatically receive a copy of the full constitution. If anyone else would like copy, please contact our National Office and you will be sent one, free of charge.

1. NAME AND LEGAL PERSONALITY

The name of the Institute is "Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising" (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute"). The Institute has perpetual succession and legal existence independent of its members who shall not be responsible for any of its liabilities and who shall have no right to any of its assets. The Institute may sue and be sued in its own name in any court of law.

2. AREA OF OPERATION

The Institute shall operate within the Republic of South Africa and territories which were formerly part of the Republic of South Africa.

3. OBJECTS

The Institute shall be devoted to charitable and vocational training purposes of a public nature and the objects for which the Institute is established are:

3.1 to assist its members to improve their skills in raising funds for charitable, educational and ecclesiastical purposes and to make their endeavours more effective;

3.2 to promote establish and maintain high standards of ethics and practice among persons and organisations engaged in the raising of funds or the conduct of appeals for charitable, philanthropic religious educational or other purposes for the public benefit;

3.3 to educate and inform organisations institutions other bodies and the public for the purpose of bringing about a better understanding of the fundraising profession and ethical methods and practices in the raising of funds or the conduct of appeals for charitable philanthropic religious educational or other purposes for the public good;

3.4 to provide and maintain a medium for the exchange of information, opinions and ideas relating to the profession of fundraising, to encourage friendship and co-operation among members of the Institute, to provide means of serving the interests of members of the Institute in all matters pertaining to the profession of fundraising and to promote meetings, conferences and conventions of persons or bodies whose deliberations may be of benefit to the members of the Institute and to the profession of fundraising;

3.5 to promote, sponsor and encourage research edu-cation and training in the field of fundraising;

3.6 to prepare edit publish or distribute by sale or otherwise any books, journals, newspapers or other publications, and to form and maintain a library or libraries containing books and other publications of interest to the fundraising profession;

3.7 to promote and authorise the formation of branches of the Institute;

3.8 to join, affiliate, amalgamate or otherwise co-operate with institutions, organisations, associations or societies whether incorporated or not having objects wholly or in part similar to the objects of the Institute;

3.9 to promote any legislation and to enter into any negotiation or arrangement with any government or other authorities in connection with fundraising;

3.10 to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attaining of the above objects or any of them.

4. POWERS

The Institute shall have all the powers of a natural person of full legal capacity including power to accept assets from any source and to acquire, invest and re-invest in property anywhere in the world, to grant mortgages and enter into any contracts including loans as borrower or lender, suretyship, contracts of assurance and contracts for the services of legal representatives, auditors, advisers, agents and others, provided that:

4.1 Any donations to the Institute shall be irrevocable and shall be used for the objects of the Institute.

4.2 No profits or gains will be distributed to any person and the funds of the Institute will be utilised solely for investment or the objects for which it was established.

4.3 The Institute shall not have power to carry on any business, enter into any speculative activities or allow any person to occupy free of charge, any building owned by it and no benefits may be awarded for any purpose to any person other than for the objects of the Institute and if any loans are made they shall bear interest at rates not less than the prevailing commercial interest rates.

4.4 The Institute will not carry on any profit-making activities; or participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous services, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.

4.5 Not less than 75% of the net income shall be used for the objects of the Institute within 12 months of the end of the financial year in which it accrued.

5. POLICY

5.1 The policy of the Institute shall be non-sectarian and non-party-political and the Institute shall take no position in public affairs except those concerning fundraising.

5.2 No member of the Institute, except as authorised by the Council so to do, shall make public statements purporting to represent the views, attitudes or official position of the Institute or take individual action purporting to be taken on behalf of the Institute on any matter affecting the Institute or its affairs.

6. MEMBERSHIP

The members of the Institute shall be foundation members, associate members or regular members. The first regular members shall be the persons who are recorded as members when this constitution is adopted. All persons admitted to membership shall be subject to the provisions of the constitution, and shall be classified as follows:

6.1 Associate member:

Associate Membership may be granted by the Membership Committee to persons:

6.1.1 who at the time of application for Associate Membership or prior thereto have for at least one continuous year but not for three or more consecutive years substantially earned their livelihood as consultants retained by or as employees engaged in fundraising of organisations, institutions, societies and causes legally entitled to conduct fundraising appeals or to solicit donations; and

6.1.2 who at the time of application are substantially so earning their livelihood; and

6.1.3 whose professional position at the time of application accords with the Code of Professional Ethics promulgated by the Institute for its members; and

6.1.4 who willingly accepts the obligations to observe and abide by the said Code of Professional Conduct and the Constitution and Rules of the Institute; and

6.1.5 who shall be recommended by two regular members in good standing of the Institute.

Associate Members may upon the completion of three years service to the profession apply to the Membership Committee to become regular members upon application with updated information and being sponsored by the original or by different sponsors.

6.2 Regular Member

6.2.1 Regular membership shall automatically be conferred on the Foundation members who have signed this Constitution and have donated not less than R1 000 to the Institute before the first Annual General Meeting.
Regular Membership may be granted by the Membership Committee to persons:

6.2.2 who at the time of application for regular membership or prior thereto have for at least three consecutive years substantially earned their livelihood as fundraising consultants retained by or as employees engaged in fundraising of organisations, institutions, societies and causes legally entitled to conduct fundraising appeals or to solicit gift-support; and

6.2.3 who at the time of application are substantially so earning their livelihood; and

6.2.4 whose professional position at the time of application accords with the Code of Professional Ethics promulgated by the Institute for its members; and

6.2.5 who willingly accept the obligations to observe and abide by the said Code of Professional Conduct and the Constitution and Rules of the Institute; and

6.2.6 who shall have been recommended by two regular members in good standing of the Institute.

6.3 Fellow

6.3.1 A regular member may be elected as a Fellow at an Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting of the Institute. The designation of Fellow shall be recommended by the Council only in respect of a person who has had not less than five years experience in the fundraising profession and who in the opinion of the Council has rendered distinguished service in or to the profession.

6.3.2 If the number of Fellows at any time equals or exceeds the number which is ten per cent of the total number of regular members no additional Fellows shall be elected until the number of existing Fellows is less than the number which is ten per cent of the total number of regular members.

6.3.3 A nomination of a member for election as a Fellow shall be in a form prescribed by the Council. Upon receipt of any such nomination the Secretary shall forward a copy of the nomination to each members of the Council and the decision whether or not to recommend such nominee for designation as a Fellow by election shall be made at the next Council meeting.

6.4 Member Emeritus

6.4.1 The Council may designate as a Member Emeritus a former regular member of the Institute who has retired after long and active participation in fundraising, in recognition of esteemed membership of the Institute.

6.4.2 A Member Emeritus has no voting rights nor any obligation to pay membership dues, in his capacity as such.

6.5 Honorary Member

6.5.1 The Council may from time to time elect to honorary membership persons not otherwise qualified for membership of the Institute. Honorary membership shall be granted only to a person who in the opinion of the Council has made a notable contribution to the fundraising profession or whose election to honorary membership shall be deemed by the Council to be very beneficial to the Institute.

6.5.2 An honorary member shall have no voting rights nor any obligation to pay membership dues. He shall be entitled to notice of the Annual General Meeting and of all ordinary meetings of the Institute. Such Honorary Membership may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Council.

6.6 General

6.6.1 Each applicant for membership of the Institute shall complete an application in a form prescribed by the Council.

6.6.2 Membership of the Institute shall be conditional upon the regular payment of the prescribed membership fee for the time being.

6.6.3 Membership shall not be transferable within fundraising organisations or between a person replacing a member within an organisation.

6.6.4 A member may, with the consent of the Council, in terms of 6.6.5 print in his stationery and advertising material the logo or insignia of the Institute and describe himself as an Associate Member, Member or Fellow of the Institute as the case may be, but no member may publish or use for private gain any office he may hold or may have held in the Institute.

6.6.5 Any member desiring to produce stationery or advertising material for his own personal use as distinct from that of a company or firm and to reproduce the logo or insignia of the Institute upon the stationery or advertising material shall apply to the Council for approval of his doing so giving details of the proposed use and form and method of reproduction of the logo or insignia proposed and the Council shall grant or decline approval to the applicant or notify the basis upon which such approval would be granted according to the Council's assessment of the particular proposal.

6.6.6 For the purpose of this Rule the Council shall interpret the entitlement of a member to use the logo or insignia of the Institute to exclude an entitlement to use it for any business purpose.

6.7 Termination of Membership
A Member of the Institute shall cease to be a member thereof:

6.7.1 if he/she dies;

6.7.2 if his/her estate is sequestrated;

6.7.3 if he/she resigns his/her membership;

6.7.4 if he/she fails to pay any sum due to the Institute for membership dues for sixty days after notice in writing from the Treasurer or other person appointed by the Institute requiring the member to pay;

6.7.5 if his/her membership is terminated by the Council provisions of clause 23.

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3.1	to assist its members to improve their skills in raising funds for charitable, educational and ecclesiastical purposes and to make their endeavours more effective;
3.2	to promote establish and maintain high standards of ethics and practice among persons and organisations engaged in the raising of funds or the conduct of appeals for charitable, philanthropic religious educational or other purposes for the public benefit;
3.3	to educate and inform organisations institutions other bodies and the public for the purpose of bringing about a better understanding of the fundraising profession and ethical methods and practices in the raising of funds or the conduct of appeals for charitable philanthropic religious educational or other purposes for the public good;
3.4	to provide and maintain a medium for the exchange of information, opinions and ideas relating to the profession of fundraising, to encourage friendship and co-operation among members of the Institute, to provide means of serving the interests of members of the Institute in all matters pertaining to the profession of fundraising and to promote meetings, conferences and conventions of persons or bodies whose deliberations may be of benefit to the members of the Institute and to the profession of fundraising;
3.5	to promote, sponsor and encourage research edu-cation and training in the field of fundraising;
3.6	to prepare edit publish or distribute by sale or otherwise any books, journals, newspapers or other publications, and to form and maintain a library or libraries containing books and other publications of interest to the fundraising profession;
3.7	to promote and authorise the formation of branches of the Institute;
3.8	to join, affiliate, amalgamate or otherwise co-operate with institutions, organisations, associations or societies whether incorporated or not having objects wholly or in part similar to the objects of the Institute;
3.9	to promote any legislation and to enter into any negotiation or arrangement with any government or other authorities in connection with fundraising;
3.10	to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attaining of the above objects or any of them.

4.1	Any donations to the Institute shall be irrevocable and shall be used for the objects of the Institute.
4.2	No profits or gains will be distributed to any person and the funds of the Institute will be utilised solely for investment or the objects for which it was established.
4.3	The Institute shall not have power to carry on any business, enter into any speculative activities or allow any person to occupy free of charge, any building owned by it and no benefits may be awarded for any purpose to any person other than for the objects of the Institute and if any loans are made they shall bear interest at rates not less than the prevailing commercial interest rates.
4.4	The Institute will not carry on any profit-making activities; or participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous services, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.
4.5	Not less than 75% of the net income shall be used for the objects of the Institute within 12 months of the end of the financial year in which it accrued.

5.1	The policy of the Institute shall be non-sectarian and non-party-political and the Institute shall take no position in public affairs except those concerning fundraising.
5.2	No member of the Institute, except as authorised by the Council so to do, shall make public statements purporting to represent the views, attitudes or official position of the Institute or take individual action purporting to be taken on behalf of the Institute on any matter affecting the Institute or its affairs.

6.1	Associate member:
	Associate Membership may be granted by the Membership Committee to persons:
6.1.1		who at the time of application for Associate Membership or prior thereto have for at least one continuous year but not for three or more consecutive years substantially earned their livelihood as consultants retained by or as employees engaged in fundraising of organisations, institutions, societies and causes legally entitled to conduct fundraising appeals or to solicit donations; and
6.1.2		who at the time of application are substantially so earning their livelihood; and
6.1.3		whose professional position at the time of application accords with the Code of Professional Ethics promulgated by the Institute for its members; and
6.1.4		who willingly accepts the obligations to observe and abide by the said Code of Professional Conduct and the Constitution and Rules of the Institute; and
6.1.5		who shall be recommended by two regular members in good standing of the Institute.
	Associate Members may upon the completion of three years service to the profession apply to the Membership Committee to become regular members upon application with updated information and being sponsored by the original or by different sponsors.

6.2	Regular Member
6.2.1		Regular membership shall automatically be conferred on the Foundation members who have signed this Constitution and have donated not less than R1 000 to the Institute before the first Annual General Meeting. Regular Membership may be granted by the Membership Committee to persons:
6.2.2		who at the time of application for regular membership or prior thereto have for at least three consecutive years substantially earned their livelihood as fundraising consultants retained by or as employees engaged in fundraising of organisations, institutions, societies and causes legally entitled to conduct fundraising appeals or to solicit gift-support; and
6.2.3		who at the time of application are substantially so earning their livelihood; and
6.2.4		whose professional position at the time of application accords with the Code of Professional Ethics promulgated by the Institute for its members; and
6.2.5		who willingly accept the obligations to observe and abide by the said Code of Professional Conduct and the Constitution and Rules of the Institute; and
6.2.6		who shall have been recommended by two regular members in good standing of the Institute.

6.3	Fellow
6.3.1		A regular member may be elected as a Fellow at an Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting of the Institute. The designation of Fellow shall be recommended by the Council only in respect of a person who has had not less than five years experience in the fundraising profession and who in the opinion of the Council has rendered distinguished service in or to the profession.
6.3.2		If the number of Fellows at any time equals or exceeds the number which is ten per cent of the total number of regular members no additional Fellows shall be elected until the number of existing Fellows is less than the number which is ten per cent of the total number of regular members.
6.3.3		A nomination of a member for election as a Fellow shall be in a form prescribed by the Council. Upon receipt of any such nomination the Secretary shall forward a copy of the nomination to each members of the Council and the decision whether or not to recommend such nominee for designation as a Fellow by election shall be made at the next Council meeting.

6.4	Member Emeritus
6.4.1		The Council may designate as a Member Emeritus a former regular member of the Institute who has retired after long and active participation in fundraising, in recognition of esteemed membership of the Institute.
6.4.2		A Member Emeritus has no voting rights nor any obligation to pay membership dues, in his capacity as such.

6.5	Honorary Member
6.5.1		The Council may from time to time elect to honorary membership persons not otherwise qualified for membership of the Institute. Honorary membership shall be granted only to a person who in the opinion of the Council has made a notable contribution to the fundraising profession or whose election to honorary membership shall be deemed by the Council to be very beneficial to the Institute.
6.5.2		An honorary member shall have no voting rights nor any obligation to pay membership dues. He shall be entitled to notice of the Annual General Meeting and of all ordinary meetings of the Institute. Such Honorary Membership may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Council.

6.6	General
6.6.1		Each applicant for membership of the Institute shall complete an application in a form prescribed by the Council.
6.6.2		Membership of the Institute shall be conditional upon the regular payment of the prescribed membership fee for the time being.
6.6.3		Membership shall not be transferable within fundraising organisations or between a person replacing a member within an organisation.
6.6.4		A member may, with the consent of the Council, in terms of 6.6.5 print in his stationery and advertising material the logo or insignia of the Institute and describe himself as an Associate Member, Member or Fellow of the Institute as the case may be, but no member may publish or use for private gain any office he may hold or may have held in the Institute.
6.6.5		Any member desiring to produce stationery or advertising material for his own personal use as distinct from that of a company or firm and to reproduce the logo or insignia of the Institute upon the stationery or advertising material shall apply to the Council for approval of his doing so giving details of the proposed use and form and method of reproduction of the logo or insignia proposed and the Council shall grant or decline approval to the applicant or notify the basis upon which such approval would be granted according to the Council's assessment of the particular proposal.
6.6.6		For the purpose of this Rule the Council shall interpret the entitlement of a member to use the logo or insignia of the Institute to exclude an entitlement to use it for any business purpose.

6.7	Termination of Membership A Member of the Institute shall cease to be a member thereof:
6.7.1		if he/she dies;
6.7.2		if his/her estate is sequestrated;
6.7.3		if he/she resigns his/her membership;
6.7.4		if he/she fails to pay any sum due to the Institute for membership dues for sixty days after notice in writing from the Treasurer or other person appointed by the Institute requiring the member to pay;
6.7.5		if his/her membership is terminated by the Council provisions of clause 23.

SAIF

Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising Constitution: Sections 1-6

Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising
Constitution: Sections 1-6