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Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding refers to measures and interventions that protect people from abuse, harm, exploitation, or violence. Other terms commonly used include: “abuse prevention,” “safe environment,” or “abuse risk management.”

In practice, safeguarding looks like...

Promoting Awareness

Educating all organizational stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, board members, program participants, and beneficiaries of service

Upholding
Policy

Developing and maintaining written policy that communicates clear behavioral expectations for all individuals served by or serving the organization

Requiring
Training

Implementing minimum training requirements for employees and volunteers in direct contact with children and vulnerable adults

Standardizing Protocol

Establishing and maintaining procedures for documentation and response to policy violations, inappropriate behaviors, and incidents or allegations of abuse

Destigmatizing Reporting

Publicizing clear and safe pathways for individuals to report concerns, internally and externally

Encouraging Boundaries

Promoting healthy boundaries and empowering individuals to be observant and attentive to situational risk

Fostering Conversation

Normalizing questions and dialogue about individual and organizational safety

Supporting & Advocating

Supporting healing and assuring justice for victims and survivors of abuse

Why is Safeguarding important?

  • The CDC reports that at least one in four girls and one in 20 boys experience child sexual abuse in the U.S.
  • On a global scale, one in six adults age 60 and older experience some form of abuse in a community setting, according to the World Health Organization.
  • As funders contribute billions every year to nonprofits and charities, the positive impact of their philanthropy may be threatened when the funded organizations fail to provide safe environments, according to a report by the Funder Safeguarding Collaborative.
  •  The 2025 Praesidium report shared survey results that showed a “clear connection between employee morale and their understanding of the organization’s safety culture,” indicating a positive benefit of safeguarding for all organizational stakeholders. 

Objectives for Safeguarding Best Practices

Increased
Protections For
The Most Vulnerable

Organizations with strong protocols and educated personnel signal to clients and the general public that safety is a priority. Normalizing safeguarding in conversation and practice creates safer environments for vulnerable persons.

Closing Safeguarding Gaps Is Crucial

Increased Protection
Strengthened

Strengthened
Organizational
Policy & Response

Communicating an organization’s zero tolerance for abuse, affirmed by a written safeguarding policy, is a necessary first step in establishing safeguarding best practices.

Defined Policy Sets the Tone

Empowered,
Observant
Stakeholders

Informed service providers, participants, and beneficiaries help create and sustain safe environments. A proactive team is a conscientious team, knowledgeable of boundaries, aware of risks, and committed to continuing education and development.

Everyone Is a Stakeholder In Safety

Empowered

Prioritize Safeguarding in your Organization with Support from our Resource Hub

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FUNDER SAFEGUARDING
IS AN INITIATIVE OF

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