Corporate Governance

 The Singapore Association For the Deaf is dedicated to strengthening our governance practice for greater transparency and accountability to the public. To ensure good governance, SADeaf makes annual submissions via the Governance Evaluation Checklist through the online Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg). The Code sets out principles and best practices in key areas of governance and management that charities are encouraged to adopt.

Governance Evaluation Checklist (Enhanced Tier)

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 staff 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”)

 

Yes

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

 

Notes:

1 Staff: Paid or unpaid individual who is involved in the day to day operations of the charity, e.g. an Executive
Director or administrative personnel.

2 Volunteer: A person who willingly serves the charity without expectation of any remuneration.

3 Close member of the family: A family member belonging to the Executive Head or a governing board member of a charity —

(a) who may be expected to influence the Executive Head’s or governing board member’s (as the case may be) dealings
with the charity; or

(b) who may be influenced by the Executive Head or governing board member (as the case may be) in the family
member’s dealings with the charity.

A close member of the family may include the following:

(a) the child or spouse of the Executive Head or governing board member;

(b) the stepchild of the Executive Head or governing board member;

(c) the dependent of the Executive Head or governing board member.

(d) the dependent of the Executive Head’s or governing board member’s spouse.

4 Executive Head: The most senior staff member in charge of the charity’s staff.

The GEC is also available on SADeaf’s Annual Report (www.sadeaf.org.sg/news-media/annual-report) and the Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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