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Category: Standards for Excellence Institute

  • Launch of New Standards for Excellence

    Event Overview 

    Join us on February 20th as we officially launch a new version of the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, as well as an expanded set of program resources! 

    The Standards for Excellence® program has been at the heart of Maryland Nonprofits since its inception in 1996 and has served as the foundation and guiding force for partners around the country since 2001. In its 2025 re-release, the Standards for Excellence program has been thoughtfully updated to ensure it is as accessible and applicable as possible to a wide range of nonprofit organizations. This revision process involved collaboration with a diverse group of nonprofit leaders, whose insights reflect the breadth of perspectives within the sector. The Standards for Excellence code provides actionable guidance that meets nonprofits where they are, supporting their growth and adaptability in an ever-changing landscape—all while centering ethics, equity, transparency, and practical application. New program resources developed by experts now include a user-friendly collection of 49 educational packets, and new and updated tools, samples, and models for nonprofit leaders to use as they navigate the challenges of nonprofit governance and management. 

    The program focuses on strengthening nonprofits’ ability to achieve their missions, regardless of their size, location, or focus area. The standards are designed to foster trust, bolster accountability, and promote high-quality services—outcomes that benefit organizations and the communities they serve.

    At this session, you will:

    1. Learn about how the Standards for Excellence code has been updated in order to continue to serve nonprofit leaders in 2025 and beyond
    2. Learn about the best practices related to nonprofit management and governance and how Standards for Excellence benchmarks have been changed and enhanced
    3. Understand the new Standards with an emphasis resources and tools, and the accreditation process. 

    Speaker:  Amy Coates Madsen, Director
    Standards for Excellence Institute

    Date and Time: February 20, 2025
    2:00 PM – 3:15 PM EST

    Location Virtual

    Ticket Pricing

    Member Ticket: FREE
    Non-Member Ticket: FREE
    Nonprofit Development Center Ticket: FREE

    REGISTER NOW

    Experiencing Issues While Registering? Please contact our office at 410.727.6367.

    Zoom closed captioning is provided in this virtual workshop. Please contact learning@mdnonprofit.org if you require additional accommodation.

  • Standards for Excellence: Conflict of Interest Policies

    While we look ahead to the release of the updates to the Standards for Excellence program in the coming weeks, it is also important to pause to reflect on topics in the Standards that that have stood the test of time over the long term. 

    One of the important areas included in the Standards for Excellence since the program’s launch in 1998 has been the conflict of interest benchmarks. The Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector encourages nonprofits to have a written conflict of interest policy that applies to board members, staff, and volunteers with significant independent decision making for the organization. The code also states that potential conflicts of interest need to be addressed both at the time when someone affiliates with the organization and then on an annual basis. The code also suggests that organizations have a process for discussing and making decisions on conflict of interest situations. These discussions and decisions will need to be made by people who are not involved in the potential conflict.

    The conflict of interest policy benchmarks have always focused on ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the organization, rather than for the benefit of individuals or other entities. In my estimation, we’ve fielded hundreds if not thousands of questions about conflicts of interest from nonprofit leaders over the years. There are a lot of gray areas. While it is easy to assume that most potential conflicts of interest relate to situations where organizations consider purchasing something from a board member, there are so many other potential conflict of interest situations nonprofits face every day.

    For some organizations, conflict of interest concerns show up in the midst of purchasing; for others, these concerns involve program delivery, or hiring, or even fundraising. Just this week, I found myself in the midst of a project that was assigned to me because the staff person normally assigned to address the task had a close relationship with the organization we are serving. As a practice, we endeavor to avoid situations where the individual reviewing organizations holds such a relationship. We, like many nonprofits, do our best to have practical solutions to addressing conflicts of interest that come up in our day-to-day work. The more we know about this topic, the more we talk about it, the more we keep in mind that the very people who lead, staff and volunteer at our organizations have many different relationships with outside individuals and organizations, the more we can come up with practical solutions to continue to keep the best interests of the organization front and center.

  • Coming soon! New and improved Standards for Excellence code and resources!

    Coming soon! New and improved Standards for Excellence code and resources!

    With the start of the new year, we can always look forward to the promise of new beginnings. The fresh blanket of snow covering our communities here in Maryland is a great symbol of hope for the new year.

    While the big news at my home has been the excitement that two snow days brings to school-aged kids, we at the Standards for Excellence Institute are also super excited to be sharing news about updates to our Standards for Excellence code and resources.

    In the coming weeks and throughout 2025, we’ll be sharing more details about the program’s exciting relaunch, which will include our:

    • Revised set of benchmarks in the Standards for Excellence code,
    • New resources and tools in our new Standards for Excellence educational resource packets (in fact, we will soon have 49 packets, a big increase from our current collection of 27 packets),
    • New website,
    • New branding,
    • New ways to show donors and the world that your organization lives by the highest standards,
    • and more…

    So, grab your coat and hat and join us as we sleigh into 2025 with great new Standards for Excellence programming and resources!

    Photo: kids sledding. Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash

     

  • Congratulations to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region!

    Congratulations to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for renewing their accreditation under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

    Being accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute demonstrates that the nonprofit has met the rigorous requirements that are included in the standards. Being an accredited nonprofit sets the organization apart as a top performer in the nonprofit field and lets all its stakeholders (funders, community members, board, staff, volunteers) know that they can have confidence in the quality of its programs, its accountability and openness, and its commitment to best practices.

    The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s mission is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live the lives they choose by creating opportunities, promoting respect and equity, and providing access to services. They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Anne Arundel County & Maryland’s Eastern Shore through their programs, which include:
    • Children, Youth, & Their Families – Serves youth under 21 with free Family Navigation, educational resources, and grant programs.
    • Living Options & Services – Supports people with IDD to live independently or in a residential group home in the community.
    • Workforce Development – Supports people with IDD to realize their career goals and obtain and maintain their chosen employment.
    • Day Services – Creates opportunities for people to determine how they spend their day, supporting them to be active in the community.
    • Behavioral Health – Provides tailored mental health counseling and therapy for people with IDD as a foundation for each person’s well-being.
    • Self-Directed Services – The Arc is one of two providers in Maryland authorized to provide fiscal management & counseling services to people with IDD who self-direct their services.

    Their Executive Director, Jonathon Rondeau, says:

    The Arc has been accredited through the Standards for Excellence since 2008, and each accreditation cycle includes more requirements around assessing organizational capacity, leadership, compliance, ethics, finance, resource development, and advocacy. This year was no different and the process for completing the accreditation took several months with the coordination and gathering of all data and narratives needed from across the organization. This recognition is not just about the amazing work we do, but how we do our work. And none of this would be possible without our forward-thinking Board of Directors and the excellence each employee brings to the community and behind the scenes.

    Congratulations again to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly use the Seal of Excellence, the symbol for excellence and transparency in nonprofit management.  

                       

    The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024

    For Immediate Release 

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen 
    Director, Standards for Excellence Institute® 
    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org 
    443-438-2314  

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024 

    Baltimore, MD – December 11, 2024 – The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces its 2024 Class of Licensed Consultants.

    Thirty highly experienced nonprofit professionals completed the intensive three-day training and are now equipped to provide organizational assessments and expert assistance to nonprofits nationwide. The members of the 2024 class represent organizations from states across the country, including Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their extensive knowledge of the Standards for Excellence to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and build capacity, accountability, and sustainability in their organizations. Licensed Consultants provide nonprofits with organizational assessments, consulting, and training, and help them earn national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    Some Licensed Consultants work with Standards for Excellence replication partners (which are organizations licensed and trained to use the Institute’s program materials and resources to support other nonprofits in a specific geographic area or in a specific mission area).

    The Licensed Consultant Program has continued to grow each year since its inception in 2006. See the complete list of current Licensed Consultants. Anyone interested in becoming a Licensed Consultant should consider joining the 2025 training – learn more and sign up to be notified when applications are available.

    Participant Testimonials:

    Laura Edwards, State Director of Maryland CASA, spoke about the training: “I spent three days in Baltimore with an amazing group of other executives, all working toward the same goal! Our cohort of 30 joined the hundreds of already licensed professionals, all of whom are dedicated to ensuring every organization has the ability to achieve greatness using best practices, Standards for Excellence Institute tools, programs, clinics and workshops! I am ready to partner with organizations to strengthen their governance, accountability, and operational excellence.”   

    Tiana Massaquoi, Co-founder and Co-Board Chair of the Keep Still Cares Foundation, describes the Licensed Consultant Training: “This has been one of the best learning experiences I’ve had, and I’m truly honored to be a part of such an incredible class of professionals, practitioners, and servants.”

    Henry W. Saxon, Managing Partner of Saxon Advisors LLC, states: This Standards for Excellence program is a vital framework that empowers nonprofit organizations to uphold high governance standards, transparency, and best practices. I am now positioned to offer tailored support to my nonprofit clients, helping them navigate the complexities of their missions while fostering a culture of integrity and excellence.

     

    Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant Class of 2024

     

     

    Introducing the Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024:       

    (*Participated as a member of a replication partner organization)

    Nico Amador
    Vermont

    Crystal Baze-Barney, CPA
    Gwynn Oak, MD

    Holly Beadle
    Springfield, MO

    Jennifer Broderick
    Columbia, MD

    Chelsea Brown
    Baltimore, MD

    LaTisha Carter
    Columbia, MD

    Madison Darling
    Marinette, WI

    Laura Edwards
    Westminster, MD

    Michael Feinstein
    Rockville, MD

    Tyryn Goodson-Seck*
    Baltimore, MD

    Lynda Hyatt
    Richmond, VA

    Natalie Jones*
    Memphis, TN

    Amanda Keeter*
    Round Rock, TX

    Dynell Kellyman
    Burlington, NJ

    Gloria Lawrence
    Baltimore, MD

    Danielle Marshall
    Nottingham, MD

    Tiana Massaquoi
    Frederick, MD

    Angela Meekins*
    Memphis, TN

    Jade Merritt
    Randallstown, MD

    Jamie Meyers, LMSW
    Baltimore, MD

    Farah Nageer-Kanthor
    Silver Spring, MD

    Lori Noonan
    West End, NC

    Gary Norman Esq. LLM  
    Baltimore, MD

    Chijioke Oranye
    Windsor Mill, MD

    Diana Phillips*
    Taylor, TX

    Victoria Prevatt
    Athens, GA

    Mindy Propst
    Hagerstown, MD

    Venus Ray
    Huntingtown, MD

    Henry Saxon
    Atlanta, GA

    Katie Speert
    Westminster, MD

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is a Maryland Nonprofits program that serves nonprofits throughout the nation. The Institute is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. It has a dozen state, regional and national partner organizations, and is supported by 339 Licensed Consultants and 90 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration.

    Currently, there are nearly 160 individual nonprofit organizations that have completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Learn more at www.standardsforexcellence.org.

  • Joshua M. Freeman Foundation Renews its Accreditation!

    Joshua M. Freeman Foundation Renews its Accreditation!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute congratulates the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation for renewing their accreditation under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

    Being accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute demonstrates that the nonprofit has met the rigorous requirements that are included in the standards. Being an accredited nonprofit sets the organization apart as a top performer in the nonprofit field and lets all its stakeholders (funders, community members, board, staff, volunteers) know that they can have confidence in the quality of its programs, its accountability and openness, and its commitment to best practices.

    Joshua M. Freeman Foundation’s mission is “Advancing arts access for all through performance, education and advocacy.” They serve more than 130,000 individuals in the Delmarva area through their two main programs, the Arts Access Initiative and Freeman Arts. Many of the live arts performances are held at Freeman Arts Pavilion, located in Selbyville, DE. When not held at the venue, live performances occur at schools and community centers around Delmarva.

    Executive Director Patti Grimes says:
    Achieving the Standards of Excellence accreditation has provided additional accountability and transparency for our organization as an IRS-designated non-profit entity. As the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation seeks and requires financial support from the public to fulfill its mission, it is incumbent on the organization to detail its strong business practices. Standards of Excellence accreditation reaffirms the organization’s strong commitment to developing and upholding policies and procedures.

    Congratulations again to the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly use the Seal of Excellence, the symbol for excellence and transparency in nonprofit management.  

    The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.

  • Congratulations to North American Land Trust!

    Congratulations to North American Land Trust!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate North American Land Trust (NALT) for earning their accreditation under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Being accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute’s partner, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), demonstrates that the nonprofit has met the rigorous requirements that are included in the standards. Being an accredited nonprofit sets the organization apart as a top performer in the nonprofit field and lets all its stakeholders (funders, community members, board, staff, volunteers) know that they can have confidence in the quality of its programs, its accountability and openness, and its commitment to best practices. The mission of North American Land Trust is to permanently conserve and steward natural and cultural resources through innovative land preservation partnerships. As a national land trust, North American Land Trust serves everyone in the Unites States.  The activities of North American Land Trust include:

    • Conservation Easements – the main component of their work to permanently conserve land;
    • Monitoring – an essential component of conserving land in perpetuity;
    • Stewardship – working with landowners for positive conservation outcomes;
    • Eco Services – assessing properties for conservation values and helping landowners enhance the conservation value of their land;
    • Fundraising – assuring the ability of the land trust to preserve land in perpetuity;
    • Education – educating about natural and conservation resources of the land;
    • Public Preserves – Acquisition, Education, Public Recreation, and Volunteer Programs.

    Steven W. Carter, president of North American Land Trust, said in a statement: “We are honored to earn accreditation from such a prestigious organization like PANO, and we are particularly proud of having met all the requirements of the national Standards for Excellence accreditation program. This designation as an accredited nonprofit organization sends a powerful message of confidence to our partners and stakeholders in the many communities where we work, further demonstrating NALT’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of organizational ethics and accountability.” Congratulations again to North American Land Trust for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly use the Seal of Excellence, the symbol for excellence and transparency in nonprofit management.   The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.

  • Congratulations to Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services!

    Congratulations to Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services for earning the Standards basics recognition under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

    To earn the Standards basics recognition, Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services went through an application process, which included a review by Standards of Excellence Institute staff to verify that Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services has strong policies in place for good governance and legal compliance, and a well-defined mission with impactful programs.

    Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services’ mission is to “Improve, strengthen and enrich the lives of low & moderate income families by providing financial counseling & literacy programs that empower individuals to purse their goals, allowing them to achieve financial stability, capability, and self-sufficiency.” They serve individuals of color, single parent households, college students, individuals with disabilities and older adults in the greater Howard County area, as well as parts of Laurel and Anne Arundel County.

    Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services’ programs include Financial Counseling to assist individuals in developing behaviors to become financially self-sufficient and establishing Basic Money Management skills. Their Financial Literacy Programs provide workshops and webinars on topics to build financial skills on debt repayment, managing and rebuilding credit, building savings, student loan repayment, avoiding identity theft and understanding bankruptcy.

    Renee R. McElroy, Executive Director, states:
    Touch Stones used the Standards for Excellence as its road map of how to not only conduct everyday business, but also to engage with the individuals we serve. As a small nonprofit, it is important that our organization is not only organized, but also knowledgeable and informed. The Standards for Excellence provided that for me. It started by allowing me to go through the assessment, which showed me where our strengths were and where our weaknesses were. They then allowed us to bring our nonprofit to the Basic Standards. When I started this nonprofit, it was to help those who did not have access to these services. I wanted to be the “hope” that they needed when they had lost all hope. The Standards of Excellence has allowed me to ensure that I am providing quality service and that I am doing it with integrity. Thank you to the Standards for Excellence Institute and Maryland Nonprofits for assisting me in this journey.

    Congratulations again to Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services for this achievement.

    The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.

  • Congratulations to HOPE For All!

    Congratulations to HOPE For All!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate HOPE For All for earning the Standards basics recognition under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

    To earn the Standards basics recognition, HOPE For All went through an application process, which included a review by Standards of Excellence Institute staff to verify that HOPE For All has strong policies in place for good governance and legal compliance, and a well-defined mission with impactful programs.

    HOPE For All serves individuals and families who are coming out of homelessness or are just in need of a helping hand, and who live in Anne Arundel County or the Brooklyn and Curtis Bay area of Baltimore City. When people transition from homelessness to affordable housing, they are often met with empty rooms. Through the Turning Houses Into Homes program, HOPE For All accepts community donations of furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies, and household goods, and gives them to their clients. In addition, the A Bed to Call My Own initiative provides newly purchased beds. Everything that clients need is provided and delivered to them without cost. HOPE For All serves hundreds of families, veterans, elderly, and individuals each year; over half of their recipients are children. HOPE For All helps empower adults to move forward towards self-sufficiency by turning their house into a home.

    Constance Cooper, Executive Director, stated, “The Standards of Excellence allowed us to prioritize our organizational needs and systematically address them so that they work for HOPE For All now and into the future.”

     

    Congratulations again to HOPE For All for this achievement.

    The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.
     

  • Is every single thing in your organization held together by duct tape?

    If you are like me, you probably have resolutions and goals for 2024. One of my resolutions is to intentionally take the time to fix bothersome things rather than just being annoyed by them over and over again. You probably also have items on your list that need attention. I discovered a type of glue that seems to fix everything; I used it several times in the last week to fix broken boot heels and watch bands. I am a bit nervous, however, and wonder if my glue repairs, however strong, may actually be temporary. Will the glue turn out to be like the proverbial duct tape, something that lasts for a little while but eventually wears out and leaves me searching for a more permanent solution?

    In my work helping to strengthen nonprofits, I often find myself asking nonprofit leaders, Are you worried that every single thing in your organization is held together by duct tape? Have all of your “fixes” been developed in the midst of a crisis, and put in place quickly to bridge a big gap? Of course, we’d all rather be in a position to say everything is SOLID, thoughtfully planned out and just right for the requirements of our nonprofit. One way to wrap our arms around the needs of our organizations is to take the time to assess where we are at this moment so that we can make plans to ensure that we adequately address all the areas and practices that might create emergencies down the road.

    Fortunately, the Standards for Excellence Institute offers a way for you to pause and assess where you are. You can take the free online Standards for Excellence self-assessment. By investing as little as thirty minutes, you can answer a series of questions about your nonprofits’ governance and management practices and be rewarded with an instant report outlining steps that you can take and resources you can use to put your organization in excellent shape. Taken together, this will help ensure that your nonprofit is in the best position to thrive and achieve your mission in the weeks, months, and years to come.

    As much as I like my extra-sticky glue and multi-colored duct tape, I know, like you, that the best solutions are those that we embrace thoughtfully and intentionally. So, take some time to assess your needs, embrace solutions, and utilize the resources of the Standards for Excellence program to help your organization achieve its important mission and goals.