+353 (0) 1 614 6700
+353 (0) 1 614 6700
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The Foundation is committed to ensuring accountability and transparency with regard to all aspects of our international development work. The Foundation is a registered charity in Ireland, its registered number is 20024314. Its revenue registered charity number is CHY 9704. The Foundation is also registered with the Companies Registration Office; its registered company number is 144006.

Governance

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors which is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the organisation’s objectives, setting its strategic direction, and upholding its values and ethos. The Foundation Board of Directors all serve in a voluntary capacity. The Board of Directors comprises of three ILCU Directors, two non-ILCU Directors, ILCU Supervisor and an Advisory Board Member.

The Board of the Foundation is accountable to:

  • Our credit union supporters and the Irish League of Credit Unions, to ensure all donations are used effectively and our work is carried out within the Credit Union philosophy, principles and ethos.
  • Our institutional donors and corporate partners, to ensure that all funds donated are used effectively in pursuit of the organisation’s objectives.
  • Our local partners and beneficiaries, to ensure the provision of technical support and effective programmes that make a real difference to the lives of people and communities where we work.

The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance. In addition the Board and staff adhere to all legislation, standards and codes which are developed for the sector in Ireland. The Foundation adheres to the following:

  • The Companies Act 2014
  • The Charities Act 2009
  • Charities Governance Code
  • Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages 

As an non-governmental organisation the Foundation is regulated by the Charities Regulatory Authority. We are in full compliance with Charities Governance Code.

In addition the Foundation is a member of a number of umbrella organisations representing charities and overseas NGOs. The Foundation is a member of:

  • Dóchas – the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations. As a member of Dóchas, the Foundation is a signatory to the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messaging which seeks to ensure that all the materials and images used by the Foundation respects the human dignity of the people and communities we support in the developing world. Learn more about the Code of Conduct on Images and Messaging.
  • The Wheel – Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises.
  • European Microfinance Platform – network of European organisations and individuals active in the financial inclusion sector in developing countries.

Policies

Please click on each policy below to learn more.

Commitment to Standards in Fundraising Practice

The Foundation is fully committed to achieving the standards contained within the Guiding+Principles+of+Fundraising. The statement was developed by the Charities Institute Ireland to provide charities in Ireland with a Fundraising Code of Practice.

The purpose of the statement is to:

Improve fundraising practice and the way charities raise their funds.

Promote high levels of accountability and transparency by organisations fundraising from the public.

Provide clarity and assurance to donors and prospective donors about the organisations they support.

We at the Foundation have considered the Statement and believe we meet the standards it sets out. Information on our fundraising can be found in the ILCU Foundation’s most recent annual report HERE.

Donor Charter

As a charity seeking donations from credit unions and their members we, ILCU International Development Foundation Ltd., are committed to compliance with the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising set down by the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group.

Our pledge is to treat all our supporters with respect, honesty and openness.

We will ensure that we are accountable and transparent in every facet of our business, so that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in all aspects of the way we run our organisation.

We commit that you, our supporters and prospective donors will:

  • Be informed of our organisation’s mission and how we use our donated resources.
  • Be informed about who is on the organisation’s governing Board, and that the board will exercise prudent judgement in its stewardship responsibilities.
  • Have access to the organisation’s most recent financial statements.
  • Ensure donations will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  • Receive recognition and acknowledgement of donations.
  • Be assured that information about your donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  • Expect that all relationships with individuals representing the charity will be dealt with professionally.
  • Have easy access to the agreed procedures for making and responding to complaints.
  • Never have donor names shared with third parties without express permission.
  • Receive truthful and forthright answers to questions you might have about the organisation.

Handling Complaints and Feedback

The Foundation is committed to ensuring that all our communications and dealings with the general public and our supporters are of the highest possible standard. We listen and respond to the views of the general public and our supporters so that we can continue to improve.

We welcome both positive and negative feedback. Therefore we aim to ensure that:

  • It is as easy as possible to make a complaint;
  • We treat as a complaint any clear expression of dissatisfaction with our operations which calls for a response;
  • We treat it seriously whether it is made by telephone, letter, fax or email;
  • We deal with it promptly and politely;
  • We respond accordingly – for example, with an explanation, or an apology where we have got things wrong, and information on any action taken etc;
  • We learn from complaints, use them to improve, and monitor them at our Board.

If you do have a complaint about any aspect of our work, you can contact the Foundation in writing or by telephone. Please give us as much information as possible and let us know how you would like us to respond to you, providing relevant contact details.

ILCU International Development Foundation,
33-41 Lower Mount Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 353 1 614 6746 | Email: foundation@creditunion.ie

What Happens Next?

If you complain in person or over the phone, we will try to resolve the issue there and then. Similarly, if you complain by email or in writing we will always acknowledge your complaint within 7 days, and do everything we can to resolve it within 21 days. If this is not possible, we will explain why and provide a new deadline.

What if a complaint is not resolved?

If you are not happy with our response, you may get in touch again by writing to the Chairman of the ILCU Foundation Board. The Chairman will ensure that your appeal is considered at Board level and will respond within two weeks of this consideration by Board members.

This complaints procedure does not apply to ILCU Foundation staff.