From the President: Trust as a Mandate
- Cambria Happ, MPA, CAE
- Dec 16, 2025
- 2 min read
At Barcami Lane, Inc., we are committed to keeping our clients informed about trends shaping the association and nonprofit sectors. This month, trust takes center stage.
Independent Sector’s Latest Report: Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Independent Sector, a leading membership association for charitable nonprofits and philanthropic organizations, released the Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy report in July 2025. Based on a nationally representative survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted in April 2025, the findings underscore the critical role trust plays in sustaining the nonprofit sector.
Key insights include:
Nonprofits remain America’s most trusted institutions, with 57% of respondents reporting high trust—outpacing government, big business, and media.
High-net-worth philanthropy lags behind, with only 29% expressing high trust in wealthy individuals engaged in giving, driven by concerns over influence and motivations.
Collaboration matters: 69% of Americans believe nonprofits and government must work together to solve societal challenges, though many worry about conflicting priorities.
Public trust is the currency of the nonprofit sector. Without it, advancing missions and securing resources becomes exponentially harder. Understanding and strengthening trust is essential for every organization in our community.
ASAE Launches the Trust Associations Campaign
In parallel, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has launched the Trust Associations campaign—a national initiative designed to reinforce confidence in associations and highlight their vital role in industries, communities, and the economy. The campaign provides tools and messaging to help association professionals share their impact and strengthen relationships with policymakers and the public.
ASAE’s campaign emphasizes associations as:
Trusted conveners who unite people around shared purpose.
Trusted standard setters who elevate professional practices.
Trusted advocates who drive innovation and civic engagement.
Participation is simple and impactful. ASAE offers a Trust Associations Campaign Toolkit with ready-to-use graphics, social media prompts, and storytelling resources.
Why This Matters for You
Trust is not just a metric—it’s a mandate. As associations and nonprofits navigate a climate of declining institutional confidence, proactive engagement is key. We encourage our clients to consider signing on to ASAE’s Trust Associations campaign and leverage its resources to amplify your organization’s credibility and impact.
Until next time!
Cambria Happ, MPA, CAE
President
