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Posted on February 3, 2004
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Philanthropy and Voluntarism
PND Connections - To Give or Not to Give: The Crisis of Confidence in Charities
Public confidence in the nation's charitable sector, or a lack thereof, not only affects donations and voluntarism, it also shapes the regulatory environment in which nonprofits operate. A series of recent scandals and reports of excessive compensation in the sector have shaken public confidence, prompting calls for new accountability legislation. In response, New York University professor and Brookings Institute fellow Paul C. Light has authored a policy brief that examines how confidence in the sector has changed. Building on his earlier work, Trust in Charitable Organizations (8 pages, PDF), Light's brief, To Give or Not to Give: The Crisis of Confidence in Charities (8 pages, PDF), analyzes recent confidence surveys conducted by Brooking's Center for Public Service, discusses specific concerns articulated by the public, and outlines the factors most likely to renew public confidence in the sector.
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