> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://open-data-institute.gitbook.io/p22-trustworthy-data-stewardship-guidebook/-MW92wuAXMrYPE7sgA-M/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://open-data-institute.gitbook.io/p22-trustworthy-data-stewardship-guidebook/-MW92wuAXMrYPE7sgA-M/demonstrate/intro-to-demonstrating.md).

# Introduction to demonstrating trust and trustworthiness

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*Assessing* and *building* your trust and trustworthiness as a steward of data are important steps, but they are often not sufficient on their own. Organisations should also take steps to *demonstrate* their trustworthiness to others. 
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As with the ‘[Assess](/p22-trustworthy-data-stewardship-guidebook/-MW92wuAXMrYPE7sgA-M/assess/intro-to-assessing.md)’ and ‘[Build](/p22-trustworthy-data-stewardship-guidebook/-MW92wuAXMrYPE7sgA-M/build/intro-to-building.md)’ sections, there is a difference between demonstrating trust and demonstrating trustworthiness. *Demonstrating* *trustworthiness* involves demonstrating all the various steps that you are taking as an organisation in order to be trustworthy as a steward of data. Depending on the needs and expectations of the partner or stakeholder you are demonstrating your trustworthiness to, this may involve stressing different facets of your organisation’s trustworthiness. 

*Demonstrating* *trust*, on the other hand, involves demonstrating that you are trusted by other organisations. In many ways, demonstrating that you are trusted is a reputational activity. For instance, an organisation that is trying to demonstrate to a potential partner that it can be trusted might provide evidence of other organisations that trust it and can vouch for its reputation or history as a trustworthy steward of data. In some cases, this may be enough for a potential partner to feel comfortable placing its trust in that organisation. Both demonstrating trustworthiness and demonstrating trust are important, and an organisation will likely perform both at different times.