Building Accountability Without Burden: How Funders and Nonprofits Can Advance Trust-Based Philanthropy Together

Guest blog by: Carmen Burnell, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Delta Dental

Trust-based philanthropy (TBP) has gained momentum as a way to dismantle power imbalances and foster authentic partnerships. Yet, one persistent challenge remains: accountability. How do we ensure transparency and impact without reverting to rigid, compliance-heavy practices that undermine trust? Collaboration is the key.

Accountability is often misunderstood as a one-sided obligation. In traditional philanthropy, nonprofits bear the burden of proving worthiness through exhaustive reporting. TBP flips this dynamic, emphasizing mutual trust and partnership. But trust doesn’t mean abandoning accountability. It means redefining it. Accountability in TBP is not about control; it’s about shared responsibility and learning.

Here’s how funders and nonprofits can work together to strike the right balance.

Co-Create Success Metrics

Funders and nonprofits should jointly define what success looks like beyond outputs and compliance. Instead of requiring rigid KPIs, agree on shared learning goals like “improved community engagement” or “strengthened organizational resilience.” Co-created metrics foster ownership and reduce the fear of punitive consequences.

Embrace Qualitative Learning

Balance quantitative data with stories, case studies, and community feedback. For example, a nonprofit might share a narrative about how unrestricted funding allowed them to pivot during a crisis, alongside basic financial updates. Qualitative insights capture nuance and impact that numbers alone can’t.

Build Feedback Loops

Create regular, informal check-ins focused on learning not judgment. These conversations allow both sides to discuss progress, challenges, and adaptations. Implementing these feedback loops can help replace transactional reporting with relational accountability.

Where to Begin

Working together is vital to advancing TBP while maintaining accountability. However, there are some initial steps that funders and nonprofits should take independently to prepare for their collaborative efforts.

Steps for Funders

• Simplify Reporting: Review your current reporting forms and highlight only the questions you know you’ll truly read and use. Encourage your nonprofits to create their own list of information they feel is important to share. Use these to begin the process of co-creating success metrics.

• Invest in Capacity: Provide funds to support staff development and resources for nonprofits to track and share impact effectively. People and tools are needed to both create and share the impact.

• Model Transparency: Share your own decision-making processes and limitations.

Steps for Nonprofits

• Communicate Candidly: Share successes and struggles openly. Funders engaging in TBP value candor and genuinely want to hear how they can help beyond writing the check. Trust grows through honesty.

• Document Learning: Use simple tools (dashboards, stories, testimonials) to capture progress. Capturing pieces of the story throughout a project helps provide the nuanced information needed to embrace qualitative learning.

• Engage Community Voice: Show how feedback from those served informs decisions.

The future of accountability in TBP should feel collaborative, adaptive, and human-centered. It’s not about proving worth; it’s about building trust through shared learning and transparency. When funders and nonprofits embrace this approach, accountability becomes a bridge, not a barrier. Let’s work together to make 2026 the year trust-based philanthropy evolves from a movement to a norm.

Carmen Burnell works every day to build healthy, smart, vibrant communities as head of corporate citizenship and community affairs for Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

She leads the company’s corporate responsibility program, including charitable giving, employee volunteerism and nonprofit relationships. She is a proactive community partner, connecting with organizations to create a positive impact throughout Delta Dental’s tri state footprint.

Prior to joining Delta Dental, Carmen worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing, Michigan, gaining expertise in nonprofit management.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University.