The purpose of the Accountability Standards is to strengthen nonprofits’ commitment to accountable practices and provide meaningful information to the donating public in order to advance more informed philanthropy. The Accountability Standards were developed by a diverse group of donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, academics and community representatives. Additionally, the general public helped shape the Standards through focus groups and town hall forums.

The Standards represent a balance of contemporary regulatory requirements and sound practices for nonprofits, and therefore serve to modernize the reasonable expectations that donors have of nonprofits they wish to support. Addressing four distinct areas of accountability— Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity and Fundraising, the Standards represent a measurable, specific indicator of a broader philosophy statement accompanying each standard.

These Standards, approved by the Board of Directors on October 8, 2009, are at the heart of the Acountability Wizard, used to conduct charity reviews.