Nonprofits face multiple competing demands for accountability from funders, regulators, and the communities they serve. To be truly accountable, nonprofits must balance these upward demands with remaining committed to their organizational purpose and mission. Effective accountability requires integrating accountability mechanisms like transparency, assessment, and learning throughout the organization in a way that supports the nonprofit's strategy and helps it achieve its goals.

1. F R A N T I C

2. Accountability is not simply about compliance with laws or
industry standards, but is more deeply connected to
organizational purpose and public trust.
Nonprofits will continue to face multiple and competing
accountability demands, so they must be deliberate in
prioritizing among these demands. A critical challenge is
to find a balance between upward accountability to their
patrons and remaining true to their missions.
Few nonprofits have paid serious attention to how they
might be more accountable to the communities they seek
to serve.
Juggling the many expectations of accountability—for
finances, governance, performance, and mission—
requires integration and alignment throughout the
organization.
Numerous mechanisms of accountability are available to
nonprofits, such as greater transparency and
disclosure, performance assessment, industry self-
regulation, and adaptive learning. But leaders must
adapt any such mechanisms to suit their organization.
The greatest payoffs restwith strategy-driven forms of
accountability that can help nonprofits to achieve
their missions.
The Concept Store, April 2013