1. Serve the public good.

Clarifying statement: Grantmaking organizations benefit from various favorable provisions in tax and corporate law. In return, we are required to serve the public good through our activities, based on the Internal Revenue Service's guidelines for exempt organizations. This Guiding Principle provides the most basic and most crucial of goals for all grantmakers. Because of its general nature, its implementation requires a dedication to values reflected in each of the remaining seven Principles. Therefore, no specific Implementation Options are listed here.

¯ Highlighted Resource:

Obedience to the Unenforceable: Ethics and the Nation's Voluntary and Philanthropic Community

Independent Sector, 2002          

Click here to view (links to another website)

This report explains why and how nonprofit and philanthropic organizations need to promote sound ethical behavior.

Other articles from Explore: Guiding Principles & Implementation Options: