Donation pools are divided according to the Distribution Protocols drafted by the local Steering Committee. NCF provides counsel and guidance to the Steering Committee based on these principles: victims are paid based solely on their loss/injuries/trauma; victims deserve a victim-centered process; and donors, victims, and the public deserve a transparent process. Victims should be compensated solely based on their loss, type of injury, or experience of trauma. Payments will be equal among victims with similar injuries, loss, or trauma. Payment is not based on income, profession, age, family status, insurance status, or any characteristic other than the injury suffered. A victim-centered approach. The aftermath of mass crimes brings extreme stress and trauma to victims and families, in addition to the trauma and injury already suffered. The process of receiving gifts from the public should not add to this distress. Victims need a predictable process for distributing these funds, with clear timelines and a straightforward application process. They also need access to information about their other compensation options, including state-based crime victim compensation funds and civil actions. The money from NCF is intended as a symbolic effort to compensate victims for the emotional trauma they have suffered. We believe that victims are best-placed to decide for themselves what they need to rebuild their lives and ease their pain, so the money will not come with any restrictions on use. NCF has the experience to help victims navigate this process, and to treat victims with respect and dignity. A transparent process. Victims, donors, and the wider public deserve a transparent process from the time the first donation comes in, to the announcement of the distributions, to the final stage of the independent financial review process. All monies collected by the National Compassion Fund will be publicly accounted for; any or electronic payment costs will be declared in advance and kept to an absolute minimum. Public meetings will be convened in the affected communities when possible, in addition to the private meetings with victims.