An organizational ombudsman addresses problems presented internally by internal staff (employees and managers) and/or clients of the organization (contractors, vendors, grantees, students, customers, applicants for employment etc.) concerning its actions or policies. Their purpose is to foster values and decent behavior-fairness, equity, justice, equality of opportunity, and respect. An organizational ombudsman undertakes inquiries, informally offer options for resolving the problem in a way that fits the particular situation as well as advocate for modifications in policies or procedures. In doing so, the ombudsman is established to function as a designated neutral within or outside of an organization and to usually report at or near the top of that organization, outside ordinary management channels. Organizational ombudsman will not answer questions about those who have contacted him/her with a complaint and will maintain the privacy of everyone who has spoken with him/her. Ombudsman does not appear in formal proceedings inside or outside the organization.