If a board member and major donor ask a nonprofit organization to do programming outside of their mission, is it ethical for the organization to comply?
If a nonprofit organization needs funds and a well-known individual with a criminal history offers a sizable donation, should the nonprofit accept it?
What are board members’ duties when serving, and why do these duties matter to the nonprofit sector?
Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics & Accountability Program for the Nonprofit Sector, tackled these questions and more at a two-day clinic series for Bay Area nonprofits Nov. 7-8.
Ten nonprofits that focus on issues ranging from education to counseling to housing attended, including executive directors and board leaders from each organization, as well as individual consultants working in the social sector.
“Standards for Excellence® training has received growing interest since we offered the pilot training in 2017,” said Joan Harrington, director of Social Sector Ethics. “At a time when trust in nonprofits is decreasing while public debate about ethical scandals is increasing, this training provides an important venue for nonprofits to take a step back to assess their practices and programming against an ethical backdrop with an emphasis on mission and values.”
The next Standards for Excellence® training at the Ethics Center will be March 12-13, 2020. Through generous support from the Packard Foundation, eligible nonprofits are encouraged to apply for scholarships to attend.