Is Your Nonprofit Organization Truly Transparent?
In my job, I constantly contact donors and ask them why they give to our organization. They say it is a matter of trust. They say we trust you and especially value your low cost to raise a dollar.
I was involved recently with a solicitation of a potential foundation. I met with several officers of the foundation. After the facilities tour, we sat down to discuss the organization. They asked a number of probing questions about how monies are spent, how monies are invested, and the integrity of officers and staff. I said, with strong conviction, that our organization was transparent. At that point the matriarch of the foundation said that word is "tossed around a great deal." I understand the reason for that comment.
- Categories:
- Ethics/Accountability
Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor.
He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.
He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville.
Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter. He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.
