Teaching moment? Read our opinion piece in The Chronicle of Philanthropy,Three Cups of Tea Scandal Offers Lessons for Charities and Trustees. Here’s a teaser:

• Consider public expectations in every report and publication.
• View the informational tax return as a public-disclosure document, not just an IRS form.
• Watch for potential conflicts of interests involving top executives and board members.
• Prevent sweetheart deals that benefit a charity’s officials or board members.
• Structure the board to engender public trust.
• Conduct independent audits regularly to avoid trouble.
• Adopt clear and fair travel policies.
• Draft an emergency-response plan long before any problems arise.