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 1. Service Above Self

• The primary purpose is to serve a cause or community, not to generate profit.

• Focused on social impact, uplifting underserved populations, or advancing a particular mission (e.g., education, health, environment).

 2. Compassion and Empathy

• Actions are rooted in human compassion, understanding, and a commitment to alleviate suffering or inequality.

• Staff and volunteers often work closely with vulnerable or marginalized groups with deep emotional intelligence.

 3. Transparency and Accountability

• Ethical obligation to be open about finances, decisions, and impacts.

• Donors, beneficiaries, and the public expect clear communication and proper use of resources.

• Annual reports, audits, and impact assessments are common tools.

 4. Mission-Driven Decision Making

• Every decision is aligned with the organization’s core mission and vision.

• Resource allocation, partnerships, and project choices revolve around furthering the mission, not pursuing revenue.

 5. Advocacy and Voice for the Voiceless

• Often champion social justice, human rights, or environmental protection.

• Work to amplify the voices of those who are unheard or underrepresented in policy and society.

 6. Community-Centric Approach

• Operates with the community, not just for it.

• Values local knowledge, participatory development, and capacity building.

• Encourages ownership among beneficiaries.

 7. Sustainability and Long-Term Thinking

• Aims to create lasting change, not quick fixes.

• Promotes resilience, capacity-building, and empowerment over dependency.

 8. Equity and Inclusion

• Strives to be inclusive, respecting diversity in gender, caste, class, race, religion, and ability.

• Designs programs that are accessible and fair to all segments of the population.

 9. Volunteerism and Selflessness

• Many nonprofits thrive on the spirit of volunteerism and altruism.

• Even when staff are paid, the ethos remains rooted in a calling rather than a career.

 10. Learning and Adaptability

• Emphasizes continuous improvement, feedback, and learning from experience.

• Often engages in monitoring and evaluation to improve effectiveness.

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