Introduction
This article that I am discussing is taken from Alliance, Vol 8, No 4, December 2003 written by Peter Shiras “The new realities of non-profit accountability.”
There has been a radical change in the working of the non-profit organizations. (NPO’s) Non-profit and philanthropic organizations are a newly powerful force for change in society and particularly in the global context. In the past their activities involved only mobilizing large numbers of individuals to affect social change but now the new power of citizen groups exist in their ability also to use the press, public opinion, the Internet, the courts and sophisticated research to promote their causes and due to this they have been able to question the power of certain business practices and to place new issues on the international agenda.
Current scenario
One of the major concerns for the Government at this time is that the sector size has been growing at its fastest pace for example the largest foundation, the Gates Foundation, has assets of approximately $23 billion and many of the largest NPOs have annual budgets well over $100 million. Such huge concentration of resources even when used for the benefit of society attracts attention. Hence the economic growth and size of the sector places it permanently under the microscope of a press that always follows the money.
Another factor of major concern is the failure by state and federal regulators to police the sector effectively. While the laws and regulations affecting NPOs are largely appropriate, the inability of government to provide guidance and oversight to offer a credible threat of detection of wrong-doing makes the entire sector highly vulnerable to those who would abuse non-profit or philanthropic organizations for their own enrichment.
As far as the ethical practices are concerned general public holds NPO leaders to........
