Ethics in the nonprofit world: How to make a good decision

As a volunteer at a local nonprofit organization, Mary was required to take a one-hour training class in "ethics and compliance" so that she would have an understanding of the values and policies of the agency.

As she settled into the agency's meeting room, Nancy, another volunteer, came up next to her. "Mary, I've signed in as having attended this class but I really need to run an errand. You'll tell me if I've missed anything important, right?"

Mary was now facing a classic ethical dilemma (often used in ethics training):

The situation seemed simple but had many facts.

The situation may have important consequences to all parties.

Individuals may have different points of view.

There are more than two options for those involved.

The situation may be emotionally difficult or involve pressure.

A law, rule or policy is of little help.

For example, was Mary responsible for Nancy's action? Was Mary under any obligation to report Nancy's nonattendance? Was it more important to encourage volunteerism or to uphold requirements? Could Nancy take the course at another time if Mary told her it was important? How much did the agency care whether volunteers attended? Was Nancy a close friend or just an acquaintance?

Fortunately the agency knew that volunteers often face ethical problems and the training program had included a segment on ethical decision-making.

The course emphasized the importance of recognizing an ethical issue. Mary might have just said, "Sure, Nancy," and not thought another thing about it. In this case, Mary felt uncomfortable a good clue that she was facing an ethical problem with several possible outcomes.

Second, ethical reasoning is required because there is no one right way to make a decision and there are many problemsolving methods. The agency suggested that individuals use a simple ethics "quick test," with three questions.

Would this action or situation violate any laws or policies? Mary decided the answer was most probably "no." But she can't stop there.

Could the decision to take an action negatively impact others? Mary wasn't sure, but she suspected if she agreed to Nancy's request, the agency might suffer, Nancy wouldn't be as successful a volunteer as she might be and it wouldn't be fair to other volunteers who were asked to take the training class.

Finally, would Mary's decision appear improper? (This is sometimes called the "newspaper" or "mom" test: how would it look described in a local newspaper, or could she explain her actions to her mother?) Mary decided that for her to go along with Nancy's request would not be right. She faced the most difficult step of ethical decision-making: what to do next.

Mary needs to take action and had several choices available to her:

She should find out more facts before making a judgment. (How important was the class? Would Nancy not be allowed to volunteer? Does the agency do anything with its attendance records? Was Nancy going to reschedule the class? Would another class be offered?)

She should list all her choices of action, taking the time to evaluate which alternatives might be better, and also think about what someone whom she regarded as an ethical role model might do. (She could do nothing; she could ask Nancy not to put her in that situation and to tell the agency she couldn't take the class; she could report Nancy to the class trainer; she could make use of the agency's anonymous help-line to ask what the agency would like her to do in such a situation.)

Not everyone will come to the same conclusion that Mary might, but thoughtful nonprofit organizations that value integrity and high ethical standards use every tool available, including training, stories, reinforcement and written material, to guide employees and volunteers who face ethical problems, no matter how simple.

As you consider which nonprofits to support with your dollars and time, be guided not only by their mission but by how seriously they uphold their ethical standards. Training in decision-making is a sign that integrity is important.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has been supporting the communities of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry through endowed funds for nearly 32 years. With assets of more than $57 million and over 320 endowed funds, the Community Foundation has provided more than $30 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves.

For more information, call 274-5900, or visit their Web site at www.floridacommunity.com.