Executive Directors - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all the executive directors of all the non-profit organizations across our country! Actually, it's not just a new year, but it's a New Decade. Endeavor to make the most of it. I am increasingly of the opinion that 'ethics' is the key issue that will set your organization apart from all the rest.

Sadly, we are not having to look far to find examples - actually, case studies in-of-themselves - of serious ethical breaches all around us. Do you follow them? More importantly, do you analyze them and seek to apply them to your organization? Have you led a fact-based (i.e., actual example) discussion with your board of directors on an ethical issue that could be related to your own organization for the purpose of being instructional, defining leadership, and differentiating your organization from your peers? Is this something you could do in the New Year? If you did, do you agree it would serve your organization well in the New Decade? Happy New Year GIFTS

Let's face it, as an executive director, you are in the most challenging situation that you have likely ever experienced. While you are definitely not alone, the fact that there are so many non-profit organizations - of extremely diverse mission and purpose - actually minimizes your opportunity to develop a meaningful support network. The non-profits in your community, while conveniently located around you, are your fierce competitors for precious (and dwindling) contribution funding. Finding non-profits of like kind across a broader geographic area takes time and still locks you into a competitive situation. But, connecting yourself with a diverse non-profit executive director network need not be such a challenge - use the power of the technology available to you - use the web and its powerful networking opportunities.

Our organization, The Center for Ethics, Governance, and Accountability (CEGA), has but one focus: to provide a safe-haven opportunity for dialogue and reflection among non-profits using ethics (and governance and accountability) as the foundation for strengthening your skills and the reputation of your organization. We have no other priority. No seminars, no library of broad-based information, no national meetings, no field trips - just a full focus on the most challenging issue of our time: ethics.

What is the modern day equivalent of "sacred honor?" Virginia just inaugurated its new governor who quoted our Declaration of Independence: namely, that we pledge "our sacred honor" - what does that mean today? Let's avoid the national (and especially the political) examples that everyone is likely to have already seen or heard; instead, let's take a look at some real examples - on a smaller, personal, local scale - that all executive directors can incorporate into their thinking. The Harvard Business School has long utilized what it calls a 'case study' approach to teaching. CEGA is committed to case studies because they are real, highly instructive, and promote dialogue and thought.

In this article, three different examples are offered for your consideration. One involves a non-profit, another is a department of a small local government, and the last is a membership association - but all can be instructional if you apply the situation to your own.

1. A contractor signs an agreement that contains recitals (promises) that are consideration (an inducement to enter a legal contract) but then decides, without explanation, not to honor those promises - and tells you "to sue him" - which is always your right, but is not your desire. Your organization, which is typically the 'little guy' in such a disagreement, probably cannot afford to sue - you don't have the time or the money - so what do you do? Are you in a legal dispute? Sure. But, I would argue the foundational element is ultimately an ethical one. How do you get somebody to behave ethically and honor their word if they have chosen not to do so?

2. A local government entices a successful non-profit organization to relocate across jurisdictional boundaries with the promise that substantial local funding will be provided annually. The executive director works hard on the deal and the board carefully considers the move and approves it. Barely two years later, in what is termed a regretful cost-reduction decision due to the severity of the economic times, the local government eliminates its funding support of the non-profit. The executive director and the board struggles with the situation and is ultimately forced to make the hard decision to close its doors. But, it gets worse. The economic development folks of the same local government approach another non-profit about partnering to offer the same services as it had promised to the previous organization. Wow! How do you even start to understand the issues entangled with this example? Does it make a difference that the non-profit that was driven out is a nationally award winning performer - or - that the 'new' non-profit partner has no experience at all? Again, I would argue that the foundational element is an ethical one.