Press Release
Most Nonprofit Execs Affirm Importance of Standards
Georgia Center for Nonprofits releases new study on ethics and accountability
ATLANTA, GA - 10/12/2005 -
The majority of nonprofit leaders in Georgia believe the nonprofit sector could benefit by adopting a standard set of practices regarding ethics and accountability, according to a new study by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Brandeis University. Being Accountable: Ethical Practices of Georgia Nonprofits shows that most nonprofits believe that, by standardizing key business practices, they could both improve their reputations and boost fund-raising.
Karen Beavor, president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, says the findings are good news. “This confirms what we’ve assumed all along: that the vast majority of nonprofits in Georgia are eager to comply with public expectations about ethics,” she says. ”They want to illustrate their accountability, and they understand the value of having one ethics standard they all can agree on.”
Key Findings:
- Over 76 percent of Georgia’s nonprofit leaders stated they feel Georgia’s nonprofit sector would benefit by adopting a standard set of ethical practices.
- Seventy-one percent of organizations surveyed felt adopting and publicizing standards for ethical practice would improve the image of the nonprofit sector.
- Fifty-one percent of survey participants felt that utilizing a sector-wide standardized code of ethics would increase giving to nonprofit organizations.
- Forty-nine percent of organizations surveyed felt increases would occur in volunteerism if standards for ethical practices were followed.
- Thirty-nine percent of surveyed organizations indicated that they would definitely adopt a set of standards if it were available to them.
The study also shows, however, that most nonprofits have reservations about adopting a standard set of practices: Only 39 percent indicated that they would “definitely” adopt a set of standards if it were available to them.
“In the wake of recent congressional hearings regarding nonprofit accountability, the fear is, for some, that standards will be unduly stringent, expensive, and debilitating,” she says. “What nonprofits want to do is focus on their missions.”
Beavor says that proving accountability doesn’t have to be onerous, however. “Our Standards for Excellence program offers clear, reasonable guidelines for nonprofits, and we offer a number of services, including consulting and education, to help nonprofits comply.” More on the program, including the complete list of 56 standards, is available at www.gcn.org.
Being Accountable: Ethical Practices of Georgia Nonprofits is available in its entirety online at http://www.gcn.org (click on, ‘Services,’ then ‘Research’).
About research methodology
The survey was created by researchers at Brandeis University, and disseminated to Georgia’s nonprofits electronically in January 2005. Participation in the survey was voluntary, and 482 nonprofit organizations from Georgia participated.
About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits
An all-in-one resource for and about Georgia’s nonprofit sector, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to serve, strengthen and support nonprofit, charitable organizations statewide. The center provides nonprofits with the resources and tools they need to be most effective; promotes partnerships between nonprofits and foundations, businesses and government to meet critical needs; and helps state and local policy-makers and the public understand and support the work of nonprofits.
About the Georgia Center for Nonprofits
An all-in-one resource for and about Georgia’s nonprofit sector, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to serve, strengthen and support nonprofit, charitable organizations statewide. The center provides nonprofits with the resources and tools they need to be most effective; promotes partnerships between nonprofits and foundations, businesses and government to meet critical needs; and helps state and local policy-makers and the public understand and support the work of nonprofits.
Media Contact
Nancy Longacre
678-916-3030
nl@gcn.org