Consulting Ethics Frameworks in the Non-Profit Sector: Theory, Application, and Practice
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Journal: NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies (ERDO)
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ethicsframeworks-2025
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About the Article
Ethical frameworks are central to decision-making in non-profit consulting, where organizational legitimacy depends on moral accountability. This article examines five major frameworks—utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, the ethics of care, and rights-based approaches—highlighting their theoretical roots and practical application. It demonstrates how consultants can operationalize these principles through structured models such as the PLUS Model, the Ethical Cycle, and the 7-Step Guide to Ethical Decision-Making.
Case examples in resource allocation, financial transparency, and community engagement show how ethical frameworks directly influence organizational credibility and outcomes. The analysis concludes that no single framework is sufficient on its own; instead, effective practice requires adaptive integration that aligns with mission priorities, cultural contexts, and evolving challenges.
Key Topics
- Core ethical frameworks: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, ethics of care, rights-based ethics
- Practical tools: PLUS Model, Ethical Cycle, 7-Step Guide to Ethical Decision-Making
- Case studies in education, transparency, and community engagement
- Strengths and limitations of different ethical approaches
- Adaptive integration of frameworks in diverse contexts
- Ethics as a safeguard for trust, accountability, and sustainability
Academic Value
This article advances the study of applied ethics in non-profit consulting by bridging theory with practice. It highlights how classical ethical traditions remain relevant to contemporary dilemmas, while offering practical tools for structured decision-making. For scholars, it enriches analysis of organizational ethics; for practitioners, it provides actionable methodologies for embedding ethical reasoning into consulting work, thereby strengthening trust and accountability.
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