Transparency as a Tool for Building Trust in Non-Profit Organisations

Transparency is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of legitimacy and trust within the non-profit sector. Through public reports, open data portals, and digital communication platforms, organisations aim to demonstrate accountability, reinforce credibility, and engage diverse stakeholders. Yet transparency’s impact depends on accessibility, clarity, and contextual relevance: disclosure without understanding can lead to confusion, cynicism, or reputational harm. This article critically examines transparency mechanisms—including digital dashboards, open data, and social media—as well as their paradoxes such as information overload, “transparency theatre,” and privacy concerns. It argues that transparency must be relational and embedded within ethical and participatory frameworks to generate genuine trust and legitimacy. Only when openness is combined with responsiveness and dialogue does transparency become a transformative instrument of accountability.