Corporate Governance

S/N

Code guideline

Code ID

Response

Board Governance

1

Induction and orientation are provided to incoming governing board members upon joining the Board.

1.1.2

Complied

Are there governing board members holding staff¹ appointments? (skip items 2 and 3 if “No”)

No

2

Staff does not chair the Board and does not comprise more than one third of the Board.

1.1.3

3

There are written job descriptions for the staff’s executive functions and operational duties, which are distinct from the staff’s Board role.

1.1.5

4

The Treasurer of the charity (or any person holding an equivalent position in the charity, e.g. Finance Committee Chairman or a governing board member responsible for overseeing the finances of the charity) can only serve a maximum of 4 consecutive years.

If the charity has not appointed any governing board member to oversee its finances, it will be presumed that the Chairman oversees the finances of the charity.

1.1.7

Complied

5

All governing board members must submit themselves for re-nomination and re-appointment, at least once every 3 years.

1.1.8

Complied

6

The Board conducts self-evaluation to assess its performance and effectiveness once during its term or every 3 years, whichever is shorter.

1.1.12

Complied

Is there any governing board member who has served for more than 10 consecutive years? (skip item 7 if “No”)

Yes

7

The charity discloses in its annual report the reasons for retaining the governing board member who has served for more than 10 consecutive years.

1.1.13

Complied

8

There are documented terms of reference for the Board and each of its committees.

1.2.1

Complied

Conflict of Interest

9

There are documented procedures for governing board members and staff to declare actual or potential conflicts of interest to the Board at the earliest opportunity.

2.1

Complied

10

Governing board members do not vote or participate in decision making on matters where they have a conflict of interest.

2.4

Complied

Strategic Planning

11

The Board periodically reviews and approves the strategic plan for the charity to ensure that the charity’s activities are in line with the charity’s objectives.

3.2.2

Complied

Human Resource and Volunteer² Management

12

The Board approves documented human resource policies for staff.

5.1

Complied

13

There is a documented Code of Conduct for governing board members, staff and volunteers (where applicable) which is approved by the Board.

5.3

Complied

14

There are processes for regular supervision, appraisal and professional development of staff.

5.5

Complied

Are there volunteers serving in the charity? (skip item 15 if “No”)

Yes

15

There are volunteer management policies in place for volunteers.

5.7

Complied

Financial Management and Internal Controls

16

There is a documented policy to seek the Board’s approval for any loans, donations, grants or financial assistance provided by the charity which are not part of the charity’s core charitable programmes.

6.1.1

Complied

17

The Board ensures that internal controls for financial matters in key areas are in place with documented procedures.

6.1.2

Complied

18

The Board ensures that reviews on the charity’s internal controls, processes, key programmes and events are regularly conducted.

6.1.3

Complied

19

The Board ensures that there is a process to identify, and regularly monitor and review the charity’s key risks.

6.1.4

Complied

20

The Board approves an annual budget for the charity’s plans and regularly monitors the charity’s expenditure.

6.2.1

Complied

Does the charity invest its reserves (e.g. in fixed deposits)? (skip item 21 if “No”)

Yes

21

The charity has a documented investment policy approved by the Board.

6.4.3

Complied

Fundraising Practices

Did the charity receive cash donations (solicited or unsolicited) during the financial year? (skip item 22 if “No”)

Yes

22

All collections received (solicited or unsolicited) are properly accounted for and promptly deposited by the charity.

7.2.2

Complied

Did the charity receive donations in kind during the financial year? (skip item 23 if “No”)

No

23

All donations in kind received are properly recorded and accounted for by the charity.

7.2.3

Disclosure and Transparency

24

The charity discloses in its annual report —
(a) the number of Board meetings in the financial year; and

(b) the attendance of every governing board member at those meetings.

8.2

Complied

Are governing board members remunerated for their services to the Board? (skip items 25 and 26 if “No”)

No

25

No governing board member is involved in setting his own remuneration.

2.2

26

The charity discloses the exact remuneration and benefits received by each governing board member in its annual report.
OR
The charity discloses that no governing board member is remunerated.

8.3

Does the charity employ paid staff? (skip items 27, 28 and 29 if “No”)

Yes

27

No staff is involved in setting his own remuneration.

2.2

Complied

28

The charity discloses in its annual report —
(a) the total annual remuneration for each of its 3 highest paid staff who each has received remuneration (including remuneration received from the charity’s subsidiaries) exceeding $100,000 during the financial year; and

(b) whether any of the 3 highest paid staff also serves as a governing board member of the charity.

The information relating to the remuneration of the staff must be presented in bands of $100,000.
OR
The charity discloses that none of its paid staff receives more than $100,000 each in annual remuneration.

8.4

Complied

29

The charity discloses the number of paid staff who satisfies all of the following criteria:
(a) the staff is a close member of the family³ belonging to the Executive Head⁴ or a governing board member of the charity;

(b) the staff has received remuneration exceeding $50,000 during the financial year.

The information relating to the remuneration of the staff must be presented in bands of $100,000.
OR
The charity discloses that there is no paid staff, being a close member of the family belonging to the Executive Head or a governing board member of the charity, who has received remuneration exceeding $50,000 during the financial year.

8.5

Complied

Public Image

30

The charity has a documented communication policy on the release of information about the charity and its activities across all media platforms.

9.2

Complied