Sometimes people think that not-for-profit's, with their do-good missions, have no need for a whistleblower hotline. Indeed, in the perfect world it wouldn't be necessary, but as we all know so well, human beings are far from perfect.

As in any organization – employees and partners at not-for-profits must know they will be safe in order to disclose certain knowledge. This is especially true when it's not easy for a whistleblower to foresee all of the repercussions of disclosing what he or she knows. In such a context, whistleblower safety demands true anonymity and confidentiality.

Listen Up provides precisely this level of safety and trust that people seek, as our comprehensive array of confidential communication services offer the best whistleblower protection in the industry.

The most forward-thinking leaders and board members of not-for-profit institutions are already aware of the benefits of having an anonymous reporting mechanism. If you are in this camp, or simply wish to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, we suggest this plan of action:

1. Your board should learn what current procedures might already be in place for receiving and managing anonymous submissions. Often the audit committee of the board is tasked with determining whether the established processes are sufficient, with a plan to make a recommendation to the full board.

2. Next, you'll need to design a process that is appropriate for your specific organization. The chief executive should work with the audit committee or designated board members to determine the best options. During this step, the chief executive often involves a key staff member to canvass the marketplace for what is available. The most fundamental decision to be made at this point is whether to choose an internal versus external hotline service. History confirms time and again that internal mechanisms are not trusted and are therefore not used.

3. The proposed solution should be presented to the full board, and each trustee or director should make it their business to know its key features. For example, the board should know exactly how the anonymity of employees, as well as all the volunteers and others who work in key capacities with your group, would be protected. The board should also understand how submissions would be handled. Who would be chiefly responsible? How would checks and balances be built into the process? In what circumstances would submissions be directed to the board? What metrics would the board be presented with, and how frequently? How would employees and partners be made aware of the existence of this service?

The single most important requirement of your plan will be that your employees, volunteers and other partners trust that the people listening to them will protect their identity and keep them safe.

Listen Up was built from the ground up to help you execute your ethics reporting plan. We provide a virtual "hotline in a box" comprehensive solution set, so that you can easily choose the elements that best serve your needs, and then quickly get back to the important work you do for the world.

SYRUS GLOBAL IS PLEASED TO OFFER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS A DEEP DISCOUNT ON LISTEN UP ETHICS SERVICES. Contact Us.

"We must give lengthy deliberation to what has to be decided once and for all."
Publilius Syrus
100 B.C.