The principles on which iRead To Live accepts financial support.
iRead To Live welcomes support from individuals, foundations, companies and public bodies that share our commitment to independent research on Nigerian higher education. Every gift is accepted on the principles below, which protect the quality, independence and impact of our work.
iRead publishes information about its finances and its donors every year. Our first financial statements and donor list will cover the first financial year in which we receive funding, and will appear on our Finances page, grouped by giving level. When a donor supports a specific publication, project or event, we acknowledge that support on the publication or at the event. Companies, corporate foundations and government bodies, whether Nigerian or foreign, may not give anonymously. Requests for anonymity from individuals and private foundations are considered case by case and are generally discouraged, and an anonymous gift still undergoes the full review described in our Donor Guidelines. We do not accept a gift whose source we cannot identify. These disclosures allow readers to judge for themselves whether our funding could influence our work.
Donors may fund a subject, a programme or our general operations. They may not fund a finding. Our researchers have the final word on their research, and no donor may shape its questions, methods, conclusions or recommendations, or decide whether it is published. We do not accept funding for proprietary research, or for work whose results would belong to the donor. The Executive Director reviews each prospective donor and the terms of each gift before acceptance, and may refer any gift to the Board of Trustees. Our researchers, leadership and trustees will defend the independence of our research even when a donor disagrees with what it finds.
Donor relationships are covered by our Conflict of Interest Policy. Researchers disclose any personal or professional relationship with a donor connected to the subject of their work, and that relationship is stated on the publication.
Support from foreign governments, foreign public agencies and international organisations is reviewed with particular care. Before accepting it, we consider the funder’s record of respecting independent research, academic freedom, civil society and the rule of law, and whether the gift could create the appearance that iRead serves a foreign interest. Every foreign funder must accept these guidelines in writing, including the principle that our researchers have the final word on their research.
iRead does not undertake activities on behalf of any government, Nigerian or foreign, and no funder may direct our engagement with Nigerian public officials. We will decline any gift that would compromise, or appear to compromise, our independence.
Donors may describe their support for iRead accurately. They may not use the iRead name, logo or visual identity, or suggest that iRead endorses their products, services or positions, without our written permission for each specific use.
