Transparency of Grassroots Human Service Organizations in China: Does Transparency Affect Donation and Grants?

Grassroots human service organizations in China are experiencing fast development yet facing inadequate public trust. In this study, we analyze Chinese grassroots human service organizations’ level of transparency regarding basic information, governance, finance, and activity transparency. We identify factors that may influence transparency and examine the effects of transparency on donation and grant income. Our findings suggest that Chinese grassroots human service organizations had low transparency in 2011. Organizations’ donation income is positively related to their transparency, especially financial transparency. Based on our findings, we suggest how to improve grassroots human service organizations’ transparency in China and beyond.