How Charities Can Gain the Public’s Confidence

In a recent Chronicle poll, a third of Americans said they had little or no confidence in charities.

In this episode of Fundraising Fundamentals, Beth Gazley, associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, discusses how she thinks nonprofits can solve that lack of trust.

Gaining donors’ confidence begins with educating the public about how charities work and helping people understand the complexity of the nonprofit sector, she says. But regulation also has a role to play in increasing transparency so donors know where their money is going.

You can read more ideas on building trust from Ms. Gazley and others in a companion piece to this month’s Chronicle cover story.

Tony Martignetti is the host of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio and he video blogs at tonymartignetti.com. He talks with nonprofit leaders and consultants about how organizations can more effectively raise money, build better relationships with boards and supporters, and manage volunteers. Look for new installments once a month.