Accountability

BBB's Charity Ratings, Seal of Approval Under Fire
January 3, 2013

Some question whether the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance charity ratings really have teeth, and if the up to $15,000 it receives annually from charities that pay to use its seal of accreditation influences its decisions. The questions come as many charities, particularly smaller ones, struggle to raise money as the proportion of people's incomes devoted to charitable giving remains stagnant.

Sleepless in 2013?
January 1, 2013

Listen in as some of fundraising's freshest thinkers take on some of the sector's toughest topics — the things that should be top of mind in the new year.

Did It? Wrote It? Own It!
August 1, 2012

There will come a time when someone doesn't like something you write, when you make a mistake or even just use a turn of phrase that rubs someone the wrong way. The key is in how you handle it.

China's Red Cross Branches Urged To Enhance Transparency
July 25, 2011

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has ordered its branches to enhance transparency in donations and expenditures following a series of scandals that had shaken public trust in the government-sponsored charity organization.

The RCSC said in an online statement that information about donations, expenditures, charity material purchases, and the allocation of the donations should all be open and transparent to the public.

N.J. Plan Would Require Charities to Tell Donors They Can Earmark Money for Programs
July 21, 2011

New Jersey regulators have proposed a rule that would require charities to tell donors that they can earmark their money for specific programs.

The proposal aims to ensure that donors aren’t being misled by solicitations that highlight programs that may actually get little of the money that is raised.

But it is causing concern at nonprofits in the state, which say that it would be an administrative burden and curtail the ability of charities to decide how best to spend their money.

Independent Sector Launches New Online Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice
May 5, 2011

On April 28, Independent Sector launched the new online Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a comprehensive collection of tools for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to enhance the accountability and transparency of their operations and ensure they operate in ethical ways.

At the heart of the Resource Center is the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations, which showcases, through downloads or links, more than 250 model policies, research papers, templates, and other tools.

Sage Helps Alleviate the PCI Compliance Burden for Larger Nonprofits
May 5, 2011

Sage North America introduced new payment processing security enhancements for large nonprofits using Sage Millennium, its highly customizable, Web-based constituent relationship management (CRM) software. Designed for diverse and complex fundraising programs, Sage Millennium version 7.9 includes a new, fully integrated Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant application from Sage Payment Solutions, Sage’s payments division.

Nonprofit Characteristics Foundations Seek Before Making Grants
November 30, 2010

The competition for foundation grants is greater than ever with charitable service demand at an all-time high. So to ensure your organization is in position to grab the attention of grantmakers, make sure you're set up with the pre-grantseeking needs foundations look for.