Public trust is the nonprofit and philanthropic community’s single most important asset. Preserving it will ensure that donors continue to give and volunteers continue to share their time and talents. At times, the actions by some in the charitable sector have endangered this trust, but the sector as a whole continues to develop methods that maintain the highest standards of accountability and transparency. Leaders in nonprofits and foundations are making a continuing commitment to ethical practices and the responsible stewardship of resources.

In 2007, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations.  The Principles outline 33 recommendations designed to support board members and staff leaders as they strive to meet high standards of ethical conduct, accountability, and transparency. So far the nonprofit community has requested more than 100,000 copies of the Principles, which continues to be an important tool for confirming sound practices and elevating a culture of good governance and accountability.

Independent Sector encourages members of the nonprofit community to regularly review and improve their own governance and accountability practices.