SickKids Foundation has never condoned the practice of commission-based fundraising. SickKids Foundation is a registered adherent to the Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code of Imagine Canada. The Code was formally adopted as policy by the Board of Directors in November 1999. The Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice is incorporated into the Foundation’s policies and procedures. Both these organizations specifically prohibit commission-based fundraising.

We were disappointed to learn that one of our suppliers had breached the terms of our written agreement when a third party paid a commission to a small group of their employees. As soon as we became aware of the facts, we suspended all activity and following a thorough investigation, SickKids Foundation has terminated the relationship with this supplier. Our contract very clearly stipulates that they are not to do any commission-based fundraising and that they must adhere to the standards and guidelines as set out in the best practices and guidelines of Imagine Canada and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The contract clearly states that any firm they engage to fundraise on behalf of SickKids Foundation must also follow these guidelines.

The exact wording of our contract reads: “The fundraiser agrees to abide at all times by any applicable provisions of: 1) any guidelines and best practices outlined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Health Care Philanthropy and the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, now Imagine Canada, ii) all applicable local, provincial and federal rules, statutes and regulations governing face-to-face fundraising and the program.” The contract that we had signed was crystal clear in this regard, and we expected our suppliers and any subcontractors to respect it accordingly.

We do not pay commission. We cannot state this more categorically. We pay “per presentation” which means that the individual fundraiser is paid each time she ‘presents’ herself or engages in a doorstep discussion with a prospective donor, regardless of whether she garners a donation. Pay-per-presentation is a well known and accepted payment model for door-to-door fundraising.