OEA: Charity Policy

What will we support?

One of the objectives set out in the Association’s constitution is to provide such charitable, sports, educational or social awards or sponsorship for the school, its former pupils and its local community as the Association by its Executive Committee may decide.

Towards fulfilment of this objective, we will prioritise the following kinds of charitable giving:

1. Donations to the school in support of its local community charity objectives and initiatives and to innovate in this respect
2. Donations to affiliated clubs to support their own initiatives (especially Community Sports initiatives)
3. Donations in support for other initiatives that might be tabled from time to time that are relevant to OEA

What is the rationale?

We believe that investing in charitable causes of the kind described above will enable members to be satisfied that they are helping society in a small but structured way, and to recognise that their membership fees and other funds are put to constructive use. We also believe this may also encourage other OEs to join the Association.

How much should be made available for charitable giving?

Other than with a specific mandate from a General Meeting of the Association, the funds made available for charitable purposes shall not exceed the sum of 10% of annual subscription income plus 5% of the current financial reserves once any outstanding liabilities or funds otherwise set aside have been discounted. The percentages used for these calculations shall be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee and the actual amounts to be made available shall be calculated early in each financial year.

Which individual causes will be selected and how?

Whilst the OEA Constitution vests power in the Executive Committee to decide on awards and sponsorship, it is important that all members of the Association should have the opportunity to nominate causes that might be supported. To make this process manageable there will be a window from 1 January – 28 February each year when members will be invited to nominate causes for support to the Secretary. A standard format for nominations shall be made available to members for this purpose. The Executive Committee shall, however, have discretion to consider and approve nominations (including its own proposals) outside this period in urgent or exceptional circumstances.

A panel of five members (including two not currently serving on the Executive Committee) shall meet as soon as practicable after 28 February each year to review any nominations made and make recommendations to the Executive Committee as to their suitability to be supported.

Individual nominations shall be scored by the panel according to the following criteria:

1. Benefit to the local community
2. Welfare of families of current and former pupils and staff of Emanuel School
3. Contribution to Emanuel School’s charitable aims and initiatives
4. Promoting sporting opportunities for current and former pupils of Emanuel School
5. Enhancing the reputation of Emanuel School and / or OEA

Each element shall be scored between 0 (low) – 5 (high), so the maximum point score for any nomination is 25.

The panel will report their evaluation and scoring to the Executive Committee within four weeks of the panel meeting. A final decision as to allocation of funds for these purposes shall be taken by the Executive Committee.

Information to members

All members who nominate a cause for consideration will receive an acknowledgement of the nomination, and feedback from the Executive Committee in the event the nomination is unsuccessful. The full OEA membership will be informed of the outcome of the nominations process and shall be kept informed of the distribution of funds for charitable purposes.

Policy Updated - 16 November 2023