Transparency as a Tool for Building Trust in Non-Profit Organisations
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-acbldtrthrtrns-05
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About the Article
Transparency is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of legitimacy and trust within the non-profit sector. Through public reports, open data portals, and digital communication platforms, organisations aim to demonstrate accountability, reinforce credibility, and engage diverse stakeholders. Yet transparency’s impact depends on accessibility, clarity, and contextual relevance: disclosure without understanding can lead to confusion, cynicism, or reputational harm. This article critically examines transparency mechanisms—including digital dashboards, open data, and social media—as well as their paradoxes such as information overload, “transparency theatre,” and privacy concerns. It argues that transparency must be relational and embedded within ethical and participatory frameworks to generate genuine trust and legitimacy. Only when openness is combined with responsiveness and dialogue does transparency become a transformative instrument of accountability.
Key Topics
- Transparency and legitimacy in the non-profit sector
- Digital disclosure and open data practices
- Trust-building through ethical communication
- Risks of transparency theatre and information overload
- The digital divide and accessibility challenges
- Relational and participatory models of transparency
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Transparency as a Tool for Building Trust in Non-Profit Organisations. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-acbldtrthrtrns-05
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