Ethics and non-profit associations

There are many pieces to the puzzle that is a non-profit organization. There is such a thing as bad publicity, where the most crucial thing a non-profit organization must realize is that a positive reputation is what can make or break your cause. If you associate yourself with the wrong groups of people, or have a relaxed attitude toward ethics, your non-profit could suffer immensely. At the same time, there is the important question of how to sustain your non-profit. If there are people offering you money who you do not want to be associated with for whatever reason; shady business practices, unknown source of funding, or someone looking for additional favors, then it might be time to reevaluate your relationship with them. They are in it for the wrong reasons and could probably either get you in hot water with the media, or even worse. Make sure you know your sources and have friends who are working with the right people. Non-profits are looking for help for people from all different walks of life, from diverse ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status breakers and volunteers who are looking to help on another level. These are great associations to have and will have a positive impact on the longevity, and appearance of your group. By diversifying your organization you gain a larger hold on populations, growth opportunities will arise in new markets you may not have previously conceived. It is important to develop partnerships that are mutually beneficial as well. If you are a group that works with at-risk teens, it would make sense to partner with a school for fundraisers, where they may be a 50/50 split. You gain a lot of publicity, you reach out to a community and people will begin to associate your non-profit with the kids from a particular area. This enhances credibility, and everyone wins this way. The school gets help fundraising, your non-profit gets funds and the kids who may need some help along the way may get involved in your program! Saving face is a critical component of the non-profit world. With a variety of organizations out there, people are looking to ones that they can trust, build rapport and relationships with and truly devote themselves to. These are the groups that they want to tell their friends about. And generally, people with money will work and relate with other people who are similar, thus allowing your organization to grow.