Compact principles are broadly compatible with most quality standards used in the voluntary sector, such as Investors in People, researchers have concluded.

A report by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, Mapping Third Sector Quality Standards and the Compact, compared commitments in the Compact, which sets out how public and third sector organisations should treat each other, to the guidelines of eight quality standards, including IIP.

It concluded that there was a "high level of similarity between Compact principles and quality standards".

The standard with the highest degree of fit was the Charities Evaluation Services' performance measurement system PQASSO, which was published in its third edition last year and is used by thousands of charities.

Sir Bert Massie, commissioner for the Compact, said the research showed the Compact was not something extra charities had to pay attention to because it complemented work they were already doing in line with quality standards.

Source: Third Sector Online