Governance

A respected Board of Directors establishes policy on pro-life issues, political strategy, and fiduciary accountability. This talented group of volunteers does not serve as a “puppet” board. They are active participants, overseers, and policymakers in the aforementioned areas. They ensure that LDI employs only the highest ethical standards. While the leaders of some groups are accountable to no one or have a “board of directors” that has little or no involvement and serves as a “rubber stamp,” those who lead LDI understand that accountability is biblically mandated and simply good practice in general.

With the exception of those areas explicitly noted above, LDI’s President is wholly responsible for all operations of the organization and has wide authority to operate LDI as he deems appropriate.

The names of those persons serving on the Boards of Directors and Advisors may be viewed.

 Independence

LDI is a fully independent organization. LDI works in cooperation with individuals and groups who recognize that human life is precious, regardless of the stage of growth.

LDI will never accept money from a political party or candidate. LDI is not allied with any political party. Anyone associated with LDI who works for or endorses a candidate for office does so strictly as an individual.

Accuracy

LDI’s leaders believe pro-life organizations must employ the highest standards of ethics in all operations — even more so than that expected of the rest of world?

LDI’s leadership are dedicated to being faithful to their calling in a God-honoring manner. They will speak the truth and only the truth. LDI will quickly and vocally point out untruths whenever they are disseminated by others.

With the exception of confidential strategic planning, LDI will never withhold information. Truth is on our side. The release of false, misleading or exaggerated information cannot be justified from either a strategic or moral perspective.

LDI leaders will never knowingly take an action or inaction that compromises our integrity or the cause of Life.

Violence

 LDI leaders wholeheartedly embrace a policy that condemns the use of violence as a means of achieving their goals:

“While LDI steadfastly upholds the free exercise of constitutional rights, its leaders unequivocally condemn acts of violence committed in the name of the Pro-Life Movement. Violence is morally reprehensible and contradicts the fundamental premise that every human life is precious and deserving of respect. In line with this policy, LDI will accept only those words and deeds that are life-affirming and God-honoring in dealing with the abortion holocaust and related evils. No amount of justification will change the truth; violence is wrong–in and out the womb. This policy is a deeply held conviction and will not be ignored, weakened or altered for any reason whatsoever.”

Any person who disagrees with this policy is invited to withhold support.

Funding

LDI is funded by the donations of those who recognize the importance of this unique mission. LDI asks people to prayerfully consider supporting this work to the degree they are able.

LDI strives to keep its educational materials as inexpensive as possible so it would be impossible to survive on income received from such orders alone.

LDI is incorporated and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit, education organization. All donations sent to LDI by U.S. taxpayers are deductible as allowed by law. For details, please visit the IRS website.

Fiscal Management

  All policies regarding fiduciary accountability are established by LDI’s respected Board of Directors. This talented group of volunteers actively overseers LDI’s finances to ensure that LDI employs only the highest ethical standards. Furthermore, a certified public accountant serves on LDI’s Board of Advisors.

In addition to policies that require strict fiscal management and accountability, LDI’s Board of Directors has approved the following related policies:

1.   LDI will not do business with a profit-making entity with which an employee or member of the Board of Directors has personal financial ties unless an appropriate blind bid process has been employed. Some pro-life leaders have amassed great personal wealth by engaging in such unethical practices. (For more information, see the May-June 2010 edition of The Caleb Report, “Planned Parenthood Gets Four Stars,” pages 4-6.)

2. Paid staff members may not serve as voting members of the Board of Directors.

LDI has an exceedingly small budget, particularly in comparison to those of other nationwide/international organizations. But LDI policies make it clear that whether the budget be large or small, there is no excuse for unbiblical/unlawful behavior or practices. We realize that every gift received is from caring people who have enough faith in LDI’s leadership that they are willing to share a portion of their hard-earned income with us. We will never take this for granted.

 Fundraising

LDI does not use fundraising tactics that are mere gimmicks and we never will, regardless of how successful they may be for other groups. Our fundraising efforts employ the most ethical practices and are void of pressure tactics, “the sky is falling” rhetoric, attempts to induce feelings of guilt or obligation, and other unscrupulous strategies.

LDI does not seek to become a rich organization; just an effective one. LDI will gladly stand alongside any other entity for a comparison of funds raised and spent versus accomplishments realized.

LDI leaders let the need be known in a forthright manner and faithfully wait upon God and His people to respond.

Privacy

LDI will never release information about its supporters to another entity for any reason. Such information is the property of each respective donor and therefore it belongs only to that individual. LDI will never give away, trade or sell donor information to another entity for any reason whatsoever.

Donor phone numbers are never used for fundraising as we believe the practice is overly intrusive.