Donor Promise
A shared commitment
Point North connects people and businesses who want to make a difference with the communities that need support most. We’re committed to ensuring the generosity of all our donors fights poverty, enriches lives and creates a lasting impact across County Durham, the Tees Valley, and the wider North East.
Our Donor Promise sets out the principles that guide how we work with every donor, built on trust, respect and shared purpose.
It’s our way of showing you what you can expect from us, and what your giving helps to achieve.
Our promise to our donors
Respect your wishes
We take our responsibility for your information and preferences seriously.
- We never sell, share or rent personally identifiable information.
- We publicly recognise donations but always respect your right to remain anonymous.
- We contact you only in the ways you’ve chosen.
- You can ask to have your details removed from our records at any time.
Be transparent, informative and professional
We’re committed to being open, clear and professional, so you always know how your giving is managed and the difference it’s making.
- We use gifts exactly as you specify. If this is ever not possible, we will tell you immediately.
- Where no purpose for a gift is specified, your donation becomes part of our collective Changemakers Fund, used to fight poverty and enrich lives.
- We provide regular reports on how your support has made a difference.
- We keep you informed about changing community needs and priorities.
- We ask for written consent before including you or your organisation in any stories, case studies or photography.
- We share our Annual Report and financial accounts openly.
Use gifts effectively and ethically
We manage every gift efficiently, ethically and for its intended purpose.
If your original wishes ever become impossible to fulfil, we’ll discuss this with you or your nominated representative.
Adhere to all relevant regulations and best practice
We follow the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and the Institute of Fundraising’s guidance on treating donors fairly.
How we keep you informed
We keep donors connected to the difference they make through:
- newsletters and impact reports, if you opt in to receive them,
- regular reports for fundholders,
- opportunities to visit community groups and meet the people your giving supports,
- invitations to events and activities.
Every fundholder has a named fund manager who acts as your main point of contact for updates, questions or guidance.
We handle all donor information in line with UK Data Protection law.
You always control how we contact you and what information you receive.
You can update or withdraw your preferences at any time by contacting your fund manager or emailing us at info@pointnorth.org.uk
Our values
Everything we do is guided by our six core values:
Trustworthy
Respectful
Passionate
Adaptable
Ambitious
Vocal
These values shape how we work with donors, partners and communities, always with integrity, care and a belief that local people know best when it comes to what their communities need most.
How we use donations
Every donation helps fight poverty and enrich lives across our region. A small proportion of each gift contributes to the running of Point North, supporting our staff, systems and governance that make every grant possible.
This contribution allows us to manage funds responsibly, maintain full due diligence, and ensure your generosity reaches the people and projects that need it most.
Accountability
We are a registered charity (No. 1047625) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 3072153). Our work is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and delivered by a skilled team led by our Chief Executive.
We’re accountable to the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Fundraising Regulator.
If you ever have a question or concern, our Complaints Policy explains how to raise it, and how we’ll respond.
Ethical giving
We welcome gifts of all kinds, from one-off donations to long-term endowments, and we carry out due diligence to ensure every gift aligns with our charitable purposes.
We may decline donations if accepting them would compromise our mission or values. This helps protect the integrity of Point North and the communities we serve.