Donor privacy statement

The Auckland University of Technology Foundation and Friends of AUT Incorporated collects and maintains personal information from our donors relating to their donations. We are committed to protecting your privacy. Any personal information provided will be treated in accordance with the law and will be used as informed here.

By providing us with personal information, our donors consent to the collection, holding, use and disclosure of personal information as set out below or otherwise; as agreed with you.

Personal information we collect

We collect personal information from donors and prospective donors who wish to support our cause. The information we collect includes, but is not limited to:

  • Your name
  • Contact details (address, e-mail, phone number)
  • Donation amount
  • Payment details
  • Your association to us or any other information about yourself (you want to share)

We record this information into our database, unless you have specifically requested us not to. We respect requests made to remain anonymous, or to be excluded from certain communications and marketing. We may use and track non-personally identifiable information from our related websites, such as usage and volume statistics, for research purposes in order to further develop our services.

How we collect your personal information

We collect personal information primarily through our donation form and the communications directly between us. We may at times collect personal information from publicly available sources or third-party sources that support AUT University. This privacy statement applies to personal information collected by any method (including digital, hard copy or verbal means).

How we use your personal information

The AUT Foundation and Friends of AUT Inc. will use the information collected to process donations, send our acknowledgement and communicate with you matters relevant to your donation. We retain your information for these purposes and as necessary to comply with our legal obligations under the Public Records Act 2005. If you choose not to provide the information requested, it may not be possible for us to finalise your donation or offer you important information relating to events and initiatives that we think will interest you.

Publishing of donors

We publish the names of our donors in our Manaakitanga Celebrating Generosity: AUT Foundation Report to Donors (found here: Giving to AUT), which is published annually. For larger donations, recognition for contributions can be presented by the naming of buildings, lecture theatres, research groups, prizes or scholarships. However, if you wish for your donation to be anonymous, please let us know and your gift will not be acknowledged publicly.

The information collected may also be disclosed to the following types of organisations:

  • Your bank or financial institution for processing
  • Legal advisers or other professional consultants engaged by us or AUT University
  • Contracted service providers of ours or AUT University (such as banks, mailing houses, logistics, research and IT)
  • Emergency services
  • Partner institutions
  • Entities owned or related to AUT University
  • Government departments and agencies when permitted legally

If we must do this, we will only share what is reasonably required.

Access to personal information

We take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. We may hold your information in either digital or hard copy form. Access to personal information of donors is strictly limited to professional staff responsible for it from the AUT Foundation.

The AUT Foundation uses online payment processing services with strong reputations for security. We do not store, or have access to, donor credit card information, bank account numbers, or other account data. We do not rent, sell, give away, or trade donor lists or information.

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to request a copy of and correction to any personal information held by us. If you wish to seek access or inquire about the handling of your personal information, please contact the AUT Foundation at foundation@aut.ac.nz.

International Donor Bill of Rights

The AUT Foundation and Friends of AUT Inc. subscribes to the International Donor Bill of Rights:

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights: To be informed of the organisation's mission, of the way the organisation intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.

  1. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organisation's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
  2. To have access to the organisation's most recent financial statements.
  3. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  4. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
  5. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  6. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organisations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
  7. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organisation or hired solicitors.
  8. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organisation may intend to share.
  9. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.