Ethics + Standards + Codification = Rewards

Sarah Todd, a regional manager for the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, thinks that merely operating within the confines of the law leaves the third sector weaker than it ought to be. Writing in the Savannah Morning News, Todd recommended that nonprofits adopt "a written code of ethics and practice standards" to which staffers, board members, and volunteers adhere. It’s not just a matter of being upstanding and warm and fuzzy, she points out:

Studies done on philanthropy … have shown that active philanthropy and volunteerism are directly associated with the level of public trust in nonprofit organizations. Of course, nonprofit organizations must comply with applicable local, state and federal laws. But a written code of ethics and practice standards for your nonprofit will build on that foundation and go much further.

In other words, the more you can show you operate ethically, the stronger your support will be from donors and volunteers. How does your nonprofit handle such standards? Are there written guidelines for them to refer to? Or is more a word-of-mouth, organizational culture kind of thing? | 501(c)