Accountability is a prerequisite for the success of non-profit organizations (NPOs). Accountability promotes good governance, proper management, and trust among stakeholders. Joint accountability, where everyone participates in decision-making and is held accountable, is the best approach. While achievements are important indicators of success, NPOs must also be accountable to stakeholders and focused on their mission. Accountability is important for financial management as well as human resources and overall management. Transparency, codes of ethics, standard operating procedures, and partnerships that emphasize accountability can help NPOs avoid bad practices and increase sustainability and success.

1. ACCOUNTABILITY: A PREREQUISITE FOR THE SUCCESS OF NPOsAt the end of this presentation you will have my answers to the following questions.WHY ACCOUNTABILITY IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESS?Why accountability is so important?

2. What is joint accountability?

3. Are achievements enough as a indicators of success?

4. Is accountability connected only with financial issues?

5. Who should care about it?

6. Which are the new ways of generating money?

7. How accountability relates to them?

8. Which are the instruments that make accountability work?

9. Transparency? How much transparency is needed?

10. Is the Code of Ethics another instrument?

11. Can Standard Operating Procedures assure accountability?

12. How can be sustainability linked to accountability?

13. How can NPOs avoid bad practices?

14. How can NPOs partner with others and what role accountability plays? What leads to success?

15. Oops….Is missing something…Did you realize it? Accountability…..

16. Why is accountability so important? Accountability isthe main pillar of:good governance

17. proper management

18. trust creation among stakeholders.What is joint accountability?Joint accountability is the best approach that tackles both success and accountability. Joint accountability is related to participation and results. Every one participates in decision-making and everyone is hold accountable.

19. Are achievements enough as a indicators of success?Yes and NoYes, if the organizations work hard to achieve their mission statements, which is a guiding star. Yes, if they are accountable to their stakeholders about their activities. No, if organizations become donor driven and forget about their mission.No, if they are not accountable to their stakeholders. Remember the scandal with the Untied Way? MANAGEMENT

20. Is accountability connected only with financial issues?Accountability is indispensable in financial management. Accountability is also a must in human resource management and management in general. An organization is like a living organism, the accountability plays among other things, the role of the immunity cells.Accountability

21. Who cares about accountability?Whom is the organization accountable to?Board of Directors and stakeholdersDonors Beneficiaries Staff Volunteers Public at large

22. The new ways of generating money Economic downturn is affecting NPOs. What should they do? NPOs as entrepreneurs? Yes, only if NPO’smission and values allow to do it. The ultimate goal of NPOs is not tomake profit, but to serve. Accountability is the tool to make sure that the NPO is in the right track and is fulfilling its mission.

23. Remember the guiding star?

24. The new ways of generating moneySure, the NPOs need some more moneyThere are 5 proposed new ways:Looking beyond cash – replacing professionals with volunteers Connecting with new donorsTransparency Generating income – charging for some servicesServing the not so needy?