The objective of these Guidelines is to enable the creation of mutually beneficial partnerships between us and the corporate sector, with the aim to achieve equal opportunities for all men, women and children with disabilities throughout Europe. The Guidelines are set out in order to rnenable us to access financing from the private sector while rnprotecting our reputation, integrity and strategic vision.

Introduction

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is an independent NGO that advocates for the rights of over 100 million people with disabilities in Europe. EDF was created in 1996 by its member organisations to ensure that decisions at European level concerning persons with disabilities are taken with and by persons with disabilities.

EDF’s objective is to achieve equal opportunities for all men, women and children with disabilities. EDF works closely with their active members around Europe, other non-profit organisations fighting for equality and non-discrimination, EU institutions and agencies, the Council of Europe, the United Nations (UN) and its bodies. EDF is member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC).

EDF’s values and UN CRPD

EDF’s values are built on the principles of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity, equality of opportunity, accessibility, equality between men and women, and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

In line with the CRPD and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, EDF seeks to partner with companies that demonstrate a commitment to respecting internationally recognised human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, and that undertake appropriate human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and address adverse human rights impacts.

How decisions are made

Decisions on corporate partnership are carried out on a case-by-case basis following this Policy.  Potential corporate relationships will undergo a screening and due diligence process using the screening criteria below.

For Sponsors who meet all the criteria, the authority to agree a sponsorship contract rests with the Executive Director, in consultation with the EDF Management Team. Where research into the sponsor reveals conflicting evidence or if the requirements are unusual the decision is referred to the Executive Committee.

The corporate sponsorship will be formalised in a written contract signed by the EDF Executive Director.

Preliminary Screening Criteria

The identifying of potential corporate sponsorship can be undertaken by any EDF Secretariat’s Staff member and after identifying an opportunity should be submitted to Funding and Grants Coordinator for the initial screening.

The preliminary screening of prospective corporate partners will be based on:

• the type of product or service the company sells (adult content, tobacco, alcohol and firearms companies are automatically excluded from partnerships, also companies with a controversial nature within the disability movement, such as psycho-pharmaceutical companies are excluded (1)).
• the company’s public record with regards to human rights, and particular the rights of persons with disabilities and other excluded groups of people in society. To thoroughly assess the above, the following questions should be researched by the EDF secretariat staff member responsible for coordinating the corporate partnership:
  • Does the company have a publicly available human rights policy consistent with internationally recognised human rights standards?
  • Does the company undertake appropriate human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and address adverse human rights impacts in its operations and, where relevant, its supply chains?
  • If adverse human rights impacts have occurred, has the company taken appropriate steps to provide for or cooperate in remedy?

(1) Lack of scientific basis for psychopharmaceutical products (e.g. critics on ‘medicalizing’ the causes of psychosocial distress, and disputed effectiveness), and the psychopharmaceutical products are being imposed without free and informed consent. Receiving funding from psychopharmaceutical companies might be harmful for EDF.

Preliminary assessment questions

• Is there anything in the company’s goals or values which conflict with EDFs mission, vision values, or the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
  • Does the company demonstrate a commitment to disability inclusion in its policies and practices?
  • Does the company engage with persons with disabilities or their representative organisations (OPDs) on matters affecting them?
  • Does the company take reasonable steps to ensure its workplaces, products, services and communications are accessible and inclusive?
• Is the company openly opposed to equality and inclusion of any group in society?
• If the company has a history of not respecting the rights of persons with disabilities, has it taken effective measures to address this?
• Is the company law abiding? Undertaking a simple search for articles, (especially recent news articles), related to users’ satisfaction, the company’s human rights or social track record, recent violations/scandals/lawsuits, advocacy positions, DPO opinions etc. is a quick way to get a sense of a company’s reputation.
• If the corporation is based in a country where EDF has a national council member, they will also be consulted. If there is a conflict of interest between the EDF member on this, the member should make this clear.

If research reveals that a company has had a recent public issue related to violating human rights, and there is no information on what steps are being taken to remedy or mitigate the situation, the EDF should reach out to their contact at the company to gather further information about how the company is handling the situation. In any case of serious doubt, EDF Executive Committee will be consulted for their opinion on the issue.

Second Screening

If the company has met the preliminary screening criteria, the EDF staff in charge of the screening process should then ensure that both the company, as well as the details of the proposed partnership meet the following criteria regarding the suitability of the partnership from a commercial, financial and strategic perspective.

These are standard criteria used by NGOs and Non-profit organisations to ensure that a potential partnership is financially sound and mutually beneficial.

1. Financial Health

EDF welcomes donations to support our core work. In principle EDF requires a guaranteed minimum donation for Corporate Partnership, depending on the size of the company.

The amounts are:

• minimum 5.000 euro from small companies (below 50 employees and an annual turnover less than 10.000.000 euro), or for very limited activities,
• minimum 10.000 euro from middle size companies (more than 50 and less than 249 employees and an annual turnover between 10.000.000 and 50.000.000 euro),
• minimum 15.000 euro from big companies and corporates (more than 250 employees and an annual turnover more than 50.000.000 euro).

EDF may exceptionally accept lower contributions when the partnership provides significant strategic value.

EDF welcomes proposals from businesses with at least one year of operating experience.

Both EDF and the partner company should have sufficient human resources and financial capacity to effectively and efficiently manage the proposed partnership. The hours required to manage the partnership from the EDF side should be calculated and weighed against the financial benefit of engaging in the partnership. The estimation should be included in partnership agreement. The time involvement should be also monitored for the whole period of sponsorship.

2. Strategic Relevance and Mutual Accountability

The potential collaboration must fit within the EDF’s overall mission, support the implementation of EDF’s strategic plan, and advance the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The collaboration should reinforce EDF’s values and independence and should not create or be perceived to create an endorsement of practices that are inconsistent with EDF’s mission or internationally recognised human rights.

3. Endorsement and Messaging

EDF does not endorse specific brands, products, services, political or religious ideologies. Partnerships with corporate entities do not imply endorsement of the company or its products or services.

While EDF will publicly acknowledge its corporate partners, EDF cannot advertise, promote, sell or distribute products or services for partners.

EDF owns the trademarks for its name and logo and a written contract is required to use any EDF’s licensed marks. Any messages or information conveyed by the corporate partner connected with the collaboration must be consistent with the EDF’s standards.

All communications relating to the partnership should respect the dignity, rights and diversity of persons with disabilities and avoid language, imagery or messaging that is discriminatory, stereotypical or inconsistent with EDF’s mission and values.

EDF reserves the right to suspend or terminate a partnership if new information emerges that conflicts with EDF’s mission, values or the rights of persons with disabilities.

4. Transparency

EDF will maintain a process of openness and fairness in developing collaborations with partners on similar projects or projects with similar intent or topic. This means, if there are multiple donors for one acidity there should be open communication between EDF and the different partners, and the partners should also be treated fairly.

The collaboration must not compromise EDF’s independence, decision-making or advocacy positions, nor create actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

EDF staff and representatives must not receive or accept any personal benefit or gift from any prospective corporate partner in connection with a partnership. Any offer of this kind must be disclosed promptly to the Executive Director and handled in accordance with EDF’s applicable ethics and conflict-of-interest rules.

A written contractual agreement is a precondition for partnership. This contract will clearly define the timeline, roles, responsibilities and deliverables of both EDF and the corporate partner, as well as indicate (if relevant) the name of the staff persons responsible for the delivery of the project for both the EDF and the corporate partner. The contract should also set out the conditions under which either party may suspend or terminate the partnership, including where continued collaboration would be inconsistent with this Policy, EDF’s mission or internationally recognised human rights standards.

Types of Partnership

EDF can engage in different types of partnerships with the corporate sector, including but not limited to fee-for-service and subcontractor relationships, collaborative partnerships, and event sponsorships.

The partnership should be used to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and communication about the partnership should reinforce positive messages about persons with disabilities and their rights.

The type of partnership, as well as the deliverables and activities each party is responsible for will be developed and agreed together based on the needs of both organisations.

EDF retains the right both to offer corporate sponsors standard sponsorship packages, as well as to create customised packages or projects based on the needs and resources of both parties.

Obligations of both parties

The written contract between EDF and corporate partner will clearly specify the obligations of both parties in terms of advertisement and publicity. It may include but is not limited to:

• Use of partner logo on EDF website, newsletter, e-mail footer, press releases, social media (for communication regarding the activity/ activities being sponsored).
• Signage at EDF private or public events: use of partner logo in event programmes, opportunities for stands or booths (non-commercial) at EDF private or public events, invitation of corporate partner employees to EDF events, introduction by corporate partners of speakers at EDF events, use of partner logo on event merchandise (bags, pens and notepads, registration booth, lanyards) etc.
• Opportunities for partners to host EDF dinners, conferences, cocktails or workshops at their venues.
• Opportunities for corporate partners to send employees for skills-sharing and staff-swaps at EDF secretariat.
• Sponsorship of physical infrastructure improvements to EDF secretariat office, with permanent plaque recognising corporate sponsor.
• All partnership-related events, communications and promotional materials should be accessible and inclusive of persons with disabilities.

Any public use of EDF’s name, logo or references to the partnership must receive prior written approval from EDF.

Contact person at the EDF secretariat:

• Magdalena Verseckas, Funding and Grants Coordinator, email: verseckas@edf-feph.org if you wish to reach out to EDF to develop corporate partnership.
• Catherine Naughton, Executive Director, email: naughton@edf-feph.org for all questions related to EDFs overall policy and approach to cooperation with corporates.

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