- Review core values and principles of other organizations and discuss models that may reflect your organization’s values; develop and adopt (through a retreat or sub-committee) values and principles and then integrate them into all conversations regarding policy and program. Answer key questions like, “what practices are ethically acceptable? Are there funding sources that are ‘taboo’ or would create negative perceptions about our work? How will staff be best utilized in achieving our goals/mission? Are volunteers an important part of how we want to deliver services?”
- Research and adopt “good practices” recognized within your field of service. Share these practices with other organizations to generate a professional standard.
- Review and consider “Codes of Ethics” for your industry. Allow your board to discuss formal adoption of a particular code, or the development of a hybrid code unique to your organization.
- Visit Legal Requirements noted by "*ME/US" in the Guiding Principles and Practices and the Basic Infrastructure Checklist to review all required reports and filings for nonprofits and ensure you are meeting your legal obligations to maintain your nonprofit status.
- A nonprofit should meet all federal requirements for public disclosure. These state that a nonprofit must provide the last three years’ information returns (Form 990 or its variants), as follows: public access must be provided immediately on request by allowing inspection of the documents at the organization’s office or offices; copies of the documents must be provided within 30 days upon written request; organizations that make their materials widely available through publication on the Internet do not have to provide copies; if the IRS determines that the organization is being subjected to a harassment campaign, copies do not have to be provided; and 501(c)(3) organizations not classified as private foundations are not required to publicly disclose the list of names and addresses of individual contributors and may block out that section of Form 990 and other materials for public viewing.
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