The Importance of Transparency

When I arrived at the Beltrami Humane Society, I quickly learned that many relationships—with vendors, partners, adopters, and donors—had been damaged. People were understandably skeptical about the organization’s operations and decisions.

Recognizing this distrust, I focused first on rebuilding trust through transparency. I made board meeting minutes easily accessible, met with vendors to openly discuss our financial challenges while reaffirming our commitment to meet obligations, posted adoption and foster policies online, and shared financial reports publicly. These steps helped demonstrate that we had nothing to hide and were committed to doing things the right way.

The truth is, trust is the cornerstone of every successful organization. Without it, you have nothing. And the way you build trust is through transparency—clear communication about your policies, procedures, and operations.

Of course, not everything can or should be public. Certain matters must remain confidential. But your organization’s true value is determined by your stakeholders—customers, donors, partners, and vendors. If you keep them at a distance, you risk losing their support.

Here are a few practical steps you can take right now to increase transparency and strengthen trust:

• Post Board Meeting Minutes on your website.

• Share photos and bios of your Board Members.

• Keep your GuideStar or Charity Navigator profiles current.

• Post your Form 990 and annual reports online.

• Publish your strategic goals and key metrics, and report regularly on your progress.

• Call your donors directly to share updates and express appreciation.

These are simple but powerful actions that help open doors, build confidence, and deepen relationships.

If you’d like help developing a transparency plan for your organization, Mustful Strategic Consulting can guide you through the process of increasing transparency, building trust, and making a greater impact in your community.