Services to Standards Developers

The demand for better “industry standards” continues to grow. Keystone’s has mounted a vigorous critique of mainstream standards, and has been arguing for approaches that improve accountability to the constituents of social change. Initial steps have been taken in this direction, most notably by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) International. The field of philantropy, however, lags behind.

Keystone’s strategy is not to become “the standard” but to influence emerging standards and related professional practice. We plan demonstrate that open, non-proprietary methods work.

Additionally, Keystone is supporting the development of a common reporting model for online giving marketplaces. As we have seen from GuideStar in the U.S., online civil society databases that offer access to basic information tend to become de facto reporting standards. GuideStar has also shown us the need for third-party stimulation to evolve the quality of information available for would-be investors.

Clients

• BOND

In July 2006, Keystone completed a feasibility exercise for a new quality standard for the British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND). Conducting focus groups with UK international development NGOs, we made a series practical of recommendations of BOND's approach to a quality standard.

"Keystone conducted the research and consultation on quality in the NGO Sector with our 300 member organizations.  We were delighted with the range of expertise they brought to the table, which exceeded our expectations for the project.  They were attentive to our requirement for careful membership consultation and received praise from many of our members for the quality of the process and the resulting report."

Richard Bennett
General Secretary, BOND

• Intelligent Giving

Intelligent Giving is an online rating magazine of UK charities to be launched in October 2006. In response to Keystone’s views of its initial rating framework, IG invited a Keystone proposal to add a fifth rating dimension on downward accountability. We are undertaking preliminary work.