Promoting charity accountability: Understanding disclosure of serious incidents

Citation

McDonnell D & Rutherford AC (2019) Promoting charity accountability: Understanding disclosure of serious incidents. Accounting Forum, 43 (1), pp. 42-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2018.05.003

Abstract
Charities are under increasing pressure to be accountable. Using a novel dataset, we provide the first analysis of the characteristics of charities voluntarily disclosing details of serious incidents that may threaten their organisation. Financial loss, fraud and theft, and personal behaviour account for a majority of serious incidents reported. Larger, older organisations that have previously been subject to a regulatory investigation are more likely to report serious incidents. However, it is smaller, younger charities where the regulator perceives there to be greater risk of organisational demise arising from the incident.

Keywords
Performance accountability; Charity transparency; Charity regulation; Charity risk; Nonprofit accountability

Journal
Accounting Forum: Volume 43, Issue 1

People

Professor Alasdair Rutherford

Professor, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology