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;
nonpartisan research organizations;
publicly funded agencies, universities and hospitals;
nonprofit colleges/universities;
individual nonprofit academic medical centers that are members of AAMC or major teaching affiliates of AACOM member schools;
and other educational institutions with an interest in improving the quality of health care journalism consistent with the mission of AHCJ.

Examples include: UCLA, Harvard Medical School, National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New England Journal of Medicine, Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, MD Anderson Cancer Center, RTI International, the Urban Institute.

NATURE OF SUPPORT: Broad

Sponsorship of events, educational programming and other fund-raising activities
Grants for events, publications or educational programming
Advertising
Exhibiting
Gifts (cash or in-kind)

Category B

WHO: Companies or groups that have no specific interest in health care but which sell or supply products or services that journalists may consider useful in their work. Examples include computers, notepads, tablets, 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 health care 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: Limited

Generally, no support is sought in this category, however, a very limited number of organizations in this category will be allowed to exhibit at the annual conference. If you think you qualify as a Category C organization, please contact susan@healthjournalism.org for further information.

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: Restricted

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 approved clarifications: October 2013

Most recent board review: September 2017