Principles of Ethical Philanthropy

California resident Joy Chesbrough founded Philanthrovation to consult with nonprofit groups on issues such as fundraising, planning, and social impact and responsibility. In her 20 years with nonprofits, Joy Chesbrough has taken an active interest in wisely spending donors’ contributions and stewarding impact.
This focus is part of the philosophy of ethical philanthropy. One grassroots organizer has identified five concepts key to appropriate actions of charitable organizations.
- Love. Philanthropy literally means a love for human beings. Treat everyone you serve with respect and compassion, never forgetting that your actions directly affect their daily lives.
- Listening. In decision-making, your nonprofit should include representatives of the people you are serving. This practice ensures that program efforts truly meet community needs and builds popular support for the agency.
- Reflection. Think about the values that drive your decisions. Recognize and learn from mistakes, examining what success means in terms of your objectives.
- Focus. Identify your charity’s strong points and discern why your organization is best suited to fulfilling a particular purpose. Be guided by a moral imperative to improve the world.
- Evolve. Past solutions may no longer serve your goals. Remain open to innovations such as new communication technologies and crowdfunding.
