posted on: Thursday, July 30, 2009

Gary Snyder

I guess I am confused.

The ink is hardly dry on the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice Workbook issued this month and now Independent Sector is seeking to strengthen charities with its StrategicLab Conference in Colorado Springs.

The Principles were not without controversy. It cost the IS and its contributors hundreds of thousands of dollars to turn out. IS president, Diana Aviv, readily acknowledged to the Chronicle of Philanthropy that the implementation of the changes in the Principles could cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars.

Also, there is still some question as to any systemic positive change that has resulted as an outgrowth of the document. Some have concerns about the lack of follow through on the Principles before embarking on other important issues. What is the status of the IS Advisory Committee on Self-Regulation of the Charitable Sector that was an outgrowth of the Principles? What ever happened to self-regulation and taking advantage of well-developed infrastructure currently existing within the sector?

The Principles have had some effect, however. Compromising on its call for self-regulation, the document cried out for government intervention into the sector. As a result, small and medium sized agencies are choking on Internal Revenue Service mandates. Furthermore, IS has called for increased federal government involvement by seeking an agency similar to the Small Business Administration. Obviously the call for such an agency must have been without insight because the SBA is considered to be one of the least respected agencies in the federal government and replete with incompetence.

So here we are at another forum that IS has convened. The StrategicLab meeting is contentious also. The Internet is replete with criticism that there are few Generation Y leaders asked to join in the deliberations. This is similar to the call for more diversity in the development of the Principles. Some then questioned the outcomes given the lack of diversity of viewpoints and now others are suggesting that The StrategicLab is another meeting at which an exclusive group is deliberating on behalf of the entire sector.

Should we be afraid of the consequences or that this is another false start?


Gary R. Snyder is the author of Nonprofits: On the Brink. He is a frequent lecturer and author of articles in numerous publications and blogs. His email is http://gary.r.snyder@gmail.com; website: www.garyrsnyder.com, phone: 248.324.3700.