A series of embarrassing news stories emanating from the nonprofit industry has prompted the Independent Sector, an industry group, to draft a new code of ethics for the nonprofit industry. What is different about it is that it includes measuring effectiveness; i.e., judging nonprofits not just by the traditional ethical standards, but by their results, like a business.

A London partnership called Access is beginning to test a global reporting system for nonprofits. Its goal is to create a system what will provide credible information about past performance, and predictions about future performance. The company believes that this open, reliable accounting will help increase global giving. The program provides a standard database in which to report on governance, finances, management systems, strategies and results of work. The Inter-American Foundation plans to use Access for more than 330 grant recipients supported by a network of 40 corporate foundations. It is believed that it will help them standardize how they measure results.