aasp Statement of Professional Conduct


The Association of Advancement Services Professionals (aasp) is committed to strengthening the field of advancement services and the careers of individual professionals by connecting, informing, and empowering a network of current and aspiring advancement services leaders. aasp envisions a successful future for all nonprofits, advanced by the contributions of our diverse and extensive network of advancement services professionals.

All aasp members will adhere to the Fundamental Principles outlined in the aasp Statement of Ethics and aaspConnect Code of Conduct. In addition, all aasp members, vendors, sponsors, corporate partners, volunteers, speakers, and their guests will comply with the following Statement of Professional Conduct, at all times and especially when engaged with and/or on behalf of aasp and its mission.

 Professional Conduct

By personal example and conduct, aasp members, vendors, sponsors, corporate partners, volunteers, speakers, and their guests represent the Advancement Services profession to the public. They have, therefore, a duty to faithfully adhere to the highest standards and conduct through their
commitment to:

  • Integrity in words and actions, embodying respect for truth, honesty, fairness, free inquiry, and the opinions of others, treating all with equality and dignity;
  • Respect for all without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age or any other human characteristic;
  • Promoting an open and welcoming community within and across the profession;
  • Innovation and the free flow of ideas by sharing freely their knowledge and experience with others as appropriate and by promoting innovations that improve conditions for, and benefits to, donors and their institution;
  • The advancement of their institution including promotion of its merits and values and seeking its advancement philanthropically and in general;
  • Defending the reputation of others by actively avoiding actions that publicly damage or lead to reputational damage of fellow colleagues, respective institutions, donors and resource development colleagues, or damage to aasp, its members, staff, and the advancement services profession as whole;
  • Appropriate attribution including giving full credit for the ideas, words, works or images originated by others;
  • The privacy rights of others and the confidentiality of information gained in the pursuit of their professional duties;
  • Adherence to aasp's Statement of Ethics and Statement of Professional Conduct, including the volunteer Conflict of Interest agreement, and to encouraging others to join them in observance of these guidelines and principles.

Violations and Reporting Process

Support of the Statement of Professional Conduct is vital to guiding the profession's actions and to strengthening its credibility. Any member or non-member who witnesses or learns of a member’s or a non-member’s violation of the Statement of Professional Conduct may report it to the aasp Office
in writing setting forth sufficient facts marked CONFIDENTIAL, and addressed to:

Executive Director
Association of Advancement Services Professionals

2150 N 107ᵗʰ Street, Suite 330
Seattle, WA 98133

OR

[email protected]

Complaint Review and Enforcement Process

Enforcement Involving Members

Upon receipt of a complaint involving a member, the Executive Director shall convene a confidential review committee comprised of members of the Executive Committee of the aasp Board of Directors. If the complaint involves the Executive Director or the Executive Director is otherwise unable to address the complaint, the President will serve in this capacity.

Members shall respond promptly, truthfully, and fully to any request for information by, and cooperate fully with, the review committee in connection with any proceeding related to this Statement of Professional Conduct. The review committee, after considering any and all relevant factors, shall determine the severity of the infraction and deliver its recommendation to the full Board as to specific consequences and actions. The full Board has authority to implement any and all consequences recommended by the review committee.

 

Appeal of Member Decisions

Members may appeal decisions of the review committee. Notice of a member appeal must be submitted to the Executive Director in writing within 15 calendar days after the member’s receipt of the review committee’s written decision. The appeal should be addressed to the Executive Director, who shall convene a review committee of the full aasp Board of Directors.

 

Enforcement Involving Non-Members

Upon receipt of a complaint involving a vendor, sponsor, corporate partner, volunteer, speaker, or guest, the Executive Director shall convene a confidential review committee comprised of members of the Executive Committee of the aasp Board of Directors. If the complaint involves the Executive Director or the Executive Director is otherwise unable to address the complaint, the President will serve in this capacity.

The review committee, after considering any and all relevant factors, shall determine the severity of the infraction and deliver its recommendation to the full Board as to specific consequences and actions. The full Board has authority to implement any and all consequences recommended by the review committee. Because violations may vary in severity, the review committee shall have discretion when determining consequences.

Decisions of the review committee involving non-members are not subject to appeal.

The Statement of Professional Conduct is a living document, updated periodically. aasp adopted this first edition in September 2023 and shall be made available to all members via www.advserv.org. In addition, aasp will distribute to all current and future volunteers.