Fundraising Policy
The Association of Health Care Journalists and the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism seeks to minimize the possibility and appearance of inappropriate influence from outside parties. The association imposes strict limitations on the sources of its funding and embraces transparency, independence and sustainability when evaluating whether to accept funds from outside parties.
Any uncertainty over a potential funder or the funding arrangement will be referred to the board of directors.
We recognize that a fundraising policy is a work in progress and may need to be revised from time to time, with input from our members. In all cases, AHCJ will strive to be both editorially independent and financially viable.
The association does not intend for this policy to take the place of its statement of principles or to serve as a policy on conflicts of interest, since its purpose is distinct.
In an effort to create common definitions and foster richer dialogue, the association has adopted four categories of potential funders, with limitations and restrictions for each.
The status of these categories will be revisited annually by the board of directors.
Category A
WHO: Media companies; media foundations; medical journals; nonprofit, nonpartisan foundations not controlled by commercial firms; publicly funded agencies; universities and their affiliated academic medical centers; and other educational institutions with an interest in improving the quality of health care journalism consistent with the mission of AHCJ. Examples include the National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, JAMA, Knight Foundation, Duke University Medical Center.
NATURE OF SUPPORT: Broad
- Gifts (cash or in-kind)
- Grants for publications or educational programs
- Advertising and exhibits
- Sponsorship of awards, events or other fund-raising activities
Category B
WHO: Companies or groups that have no specific interest in healthcare but which sell or supply products or services that journalists may consider useful in their work. Examples include computers, notepads, PDAs, automobile rentals, hotels, airlines and freelance agencies.
Nature of Support: Limited
- Advertising and exhibits
- In-kind donations for fund-raising activities, i.e. raffle, silent auction
Category C
WHO: Not-for-profit associations or societies that represent those who sell healthcare services or who lobby legislators on health care issues. Examples include the American Medical Association, American Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Association of Health Plans and Families USA.
NATURE OF SUPPORT: Generally, no support is sought in this category, however, a very limited number of organizations in this category will be allowed to exhibit at Health Journalism 2012. The board will review after that event whether there was a reasonable balance between encouraging a diversity of voices in the conference exhibit hall and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Category D
WHO: Private or public corporations or not-for-profit entities that sell products or services in the health care field. Examples include manufacturers of health care products, health care insurers, health plans, individual or corporate providers or medical practitioners, medical management organizations, private hospitals, marketing or public relations companies with an interest in healthcare, and any other entities with a commercial interest in the field, whether for-profit or not-for-profit.
NATURE OF SUPPORT: No funds or in-kind support of any kind will be sought from funders in this category.
Originally approved by the board in May 2004
Most recent review: April 2011