Funding policy
The Aryeh Neier Center for Justice depends on philanthropic funding to pursue its work. This policy sets out the principles and procedures by which the Center seeks, accepts, and manages that funding, so that resources support the Center’s integrity and independence.
1. Principles
The Neier Center accepts funding from different sources – including foundations, individual donors, governments and companies – provided that accepting those funds does not:
- impair the Center’s independence in setting its agenda, programs, or reporting;
- endanger its integrity, credibility, or reputation; or
- violate applicable laws, such as related to money-laundering and sanctions.
Every funding decision is made against these principles after careful review. They apply to all funding sought, accepted, or held by the Center, whether monetary or in-kind, restricted or unrestricted.
3. Programmatic independence
The Center’s programming decisions, research agenda, investigative methods, and public outputs are determined independently, and donors have no right of review, approval, or influence over the Center’s work. The Center does not accept funding that includes an expectation, explicitly or by implication, that it will avoid particular topics, individuals, states, or perspectives, or that it will adopt a predetermined position. Acceptance of funding does not imply endorsement of a donor or their views.
4. Restricted funding
Restricted or project-specific funding is welcomed where the proposed work is closely aligned with the Center’s mission and goals. The Center retains full control over project design, methodology, findings, and public communications in respect of all funded work.
5. Transparency and disclosure
The Center will publicly disclose, in its annual reporting, the identity of donors contributing EUR 5,000 or more in a calendar year, together with aggregate figures for smaller contributions. Donors who request privacy may have their identity withheld from public listings where lawful and where their identity is known to the Center’s leadership and complies with applicable disclosure obligations.
6. Due diligence
Before accepting donations, the Center conducts due diligence proportionate to the size and source of the funding and may include, for example, verification of the source of funds, potential conflicts of interest, and screening against sanctions lists.
7. Conflicts of interest
All staff, fellows, board members, and senior advisers of the Center must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising from a funding relationship.
8. Review and remediation
If, after a donation has been accepted, the Center becomes aware of information that conflicts with this policy, its leadership will review the funding and determine whether to return unspent funds, decline further support, or take other action.
9. Governance and review
This policy is approved by the Center’s co-directors in coordination with Bard College Berlin. It will be reviewed every two years and updated as the Center’s scope and operating context evolve.
The Center is grateful for the support from the following funders: