Teaching Paper: Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks for Non-Profit Leaders – Applying Principles to Real-World Dilemmas
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ldrmsdrorg-tp-03
About the Article
This Teaching Paper introduces two structured ethical decision-making tools—the PLUS Model and the Decision-Making Tree—and demonstrates their practical application in non-profit organizations. The PLUS Model evaluates policy alignment, legal compliance, universal ethical principles, and personal integrity, while the Decision-Making Tree guides leaders through identifying issues, analyzing stakeholders, evaluating alternatives, and reflecting on outcomes. Using a real-world case study of a humanitarian NGO navigating a donor ethics dilemma, the paper illustrates how these frameworks promote accountability, transparency, and principled decision-making in resource-limited and culturally diverse contexts. Designed for both practitioners and educators, this paper provides accessible tools for embedding ethical reasoning into non-profit governance and leadership practice.
Key Topics
- Ethical decision-making frameworks for non-profit leaders
- The PLUS Model: policies, laws, principles, and self-integrity
- The Decision-Making Tree for structured reasoning
- Governance and accountability in ethical dilemmas
- Cultural sensitivity in ethical leadership
- Transparency and stakeholder trust in decision-making
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Teaching Paper: Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks for Non-Profit Leaders – Applying Principles to Real-World Dilemmas. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. Neya Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ldrmsdrorg-tp-03
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