Professional Ethics and Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real Grant Writing practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Standards flashcards as text
A freelance grant writer is simultaneously working with two nonprofits that serve the same population in the same city and compete for the same foundation grants. What is the best ethical approach?
Answer: Disclose the relationship to both clients and obtain written consent to continue
Full disclosure to both clients with documented consent is required when serving competing organizations; proceeding without consent violates conflict of interest standards.
The principle of 'cultural competency' in ethical grant writing primarily requires that grant writers:
Answer: Accurately represent and respect the communities described in grant narratives
Cultural competency requires grant writers to represent communities honestly, avoid stereotyping, and ensure narratives reflect the community's own voice and priorities rather than outsider assumptions.
When a funder's RFP prohibits submitting the same proposal to other funders simultaneously, a grant writer should:
Answer: Honor the restriction and advise the client not to submit elsewhere during the review period
Funder restrictions on simultaneous submissions must be honored; violating them breaches the trust relationship and can result in disqualification and damage to the organization's reputation.
Which behavior demonstrates ethical professional development for grant writers?
Answer: Participating in GPA or AFP certification programs and staying current with field changes
Ongoing professional development through recognized organizations like GPA and AFP reflects a commitment to maintaining competence, a core ethical obligation in the profession.
A grant writer discovers that a previous grant writer at their organization submitted a proposal containing plagiarized text from a published article. The grant is currently under review. What is the most ethical action?
Answer: Notify the funder of the error and submit corrected materials immediately
When plagiarism is discovered in a live application, the ethical obligation is to notify the funder and correct the record regardless of who originally wrote the content.
What does 'transparency in budgeting' mean in the context of grant writing ethics?
Answer: Providing a detailed budget narrative that justifies all requested expenses honestly
Transparent budgeting means providing clear, honest justification for all costs including indirect/overhead, so funders can make informed decisions about resource allocation.
A grant writer is approached by a journalist asking for details about a foundation's unpublished review criteria that the grant writer learned through a review panel assignment. What should the grant writer do?
Answer: Decline to share because panelist information is held in confidence
Information learned during confidential grant review panel service is privileged and must not be disclosed; panelists are typically required to sign confidentiality agreements.