Article 11 of the Saudi Donation Collection Law

This article protects the will of donors, and provides:

• The rule: the licensed entity may not spend the donations it collected on anything other than the purpose for which they were collected.
• The exception: it may do so with the approval of the licensing authority.
• The limit on the exception: subject to the donor's condition, if there is one.

If the donor stipulated that the donation be spent in a particular way, that condition must be observed. The text does not explain how the licensing authority's approval is to be reconciled with the donor's condition in each case, but it makes the condition something to be taken into account.

The practical effect is that an association that collected for a specified purpose cannot decide alone to move the money to another purpose, even if it considers it more beneficial. This is consistent with the definition of a call to collect donations in Article 1, which is urging donation to a specified entity for a specified purpose.

This article comes after Article 10, which obliges the entity to provide the licensing authority with a bank statement and a detailed financial report within 15 days of the end of the campaign, allowing oversight of what was collected. Article 12 follows, requiring joint signature of at least two persons for spending, with the financial officer's signature essential, and spending to be from the approved bank accounts. A donor who donated on a condition and fears it being breached would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in non-profit sector regulations.