Non-Profit & NGO Governance
A non-profit holds a trust: from its donors, its beneficiaries and its community.
Non-profit organisations depend on trust. Donors give because they believe the money will be used as intended; communities rely on the services provided. Governance in this sector means making sure that mission, money and accountability stay aligned, and that a good cause is not weakened by weak administration. Organisations may be trusts, voluntary associations or non-profit companies, and each form carries its own legal obligations.
Most face similar pressures: limited resources, volunteer boards, dependence on a few funders, and strict reporting conditions attached to funds. Rules differ by country. In South Africa, registration under the Nonprofit Organisations Act is voluntary for many organisations, but those who register take on regular reporting; in England and Wales the Charity Commission registers and supervises charities; and the Financial Action Task Force asks countries to protect the sector from abuse. Conflicts of interest, clear records and a board that knows the difference between governing and doing matter just as much.
This theme is about giving board members and managers of non-profits the practical tools to protect their mission and keep the trust placed in them.
Non-profit board members and trustees, executive directors, finance and programme managers, and funders.