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Category: Standards for Excellence Institute

  • Engaging the Board as a Catalyst for Change

    Engaging the Board as a Catalyst for Change 
    by Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone, Strategy Solutions, Inc.

    As an Executive Director (ED), or CEO, of a nonprofit organization you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate. That’s why it’s important that your board of directors align with and help advance the agency’s strategic plan.

    But how can you effectively engage the board to be a catalyst for real change?

    The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector offers guidance on how to do just that. The first step is a solid strategic planning process. 

    An effective strategic plan is the foundation for board engagement.

    Writer Joel A. Barker once said, “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

    You probably wouldn’t be the ED of a nonprofit if you didn’t want to make a positive change. However, change can only be made when there is a genuine partnership between the board and staff to implement the strategic plan.

    Clarifying roles between the board of directors and agency staff is an important step in ensuring organizational success.

    Board Responsibilities

    • Governance
    • Decide ‘what’
    • Make policy
    • Set strategic goals
    • Review long term plans
    • Monitor progress

    Executive Director Responsibilities

    • Administration
    • Decide ‘how’
    • Carry out policy
    • Plan to achieve goals
    • Implement plans
    • Monitor progress

    Keep in mind, even though one party is responsible for this list of tasks, the other is also involved. For example, it is the Executive Director’s responsibility to lead strategic planning and engage the board by providing a “work product” that answers these questions for the board to react to:

    • Where are we now? Community needs, organization needs, stakeholder input
    • Where do we want to be? Vision, mission, goals
    • How are we going to get there? Objectives and strategies
    • Who will be doing what? Action plan, board agenda of work, budget, timeframes
    • How are we doing? Quarterly reports, evaluation

    Many organizations believe they’re finished with the strategic planning process once they identify goals and objectives. When the final steps of ‘who will be doing what’ and ‘how are we doing’ are overlooked, organizations get stuck and have difficulty implementing key components of their strategic plan.

    Roles need to be clearly defined and delineated among board members and staff. Once the strategic plan is aligned with your board structure, it IS possible to engage the board to help change the world! Here’s how it’s done:

    Outline specific roles for each committee to help advance strategic plan implementation.

    The way in which you structure your board is a critical success factor in supporting the strategic plan implementation.

    The Standards for Excellence Institute recommends creating three standing board committees:

    1. Executive Committee. ED liaison, strategic plan oversight, emergency action
    2. Finance Committee. Budget, financial oversight, audit
    3. Governance Committee. Board recruitment, board engagement, board performance, bylaws

    As the ED, it’s crucial to think through board roles and the assistance you want in supporting plan implementation. If you can clearly outline requests and requirements for your board and structure them within the context of committee work, they will be engaged in the activities necessary to actually accomplish your goals.

    Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone are licensed consultants, trainers and peer reviewers for The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

    Still feel like you need help engaging your board as a catalyst for change?
    Strategy Solutions is here for you! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing your board succeed!

    About Strategy Solutions Inc. 
    For over 25 years, Strategy Solutions Inc. has been providing innovative solutions to ensure the sustainability of nonprofit, public, and private organizations, and to create healthier communities. Our approach is unique and incorporates the expertise of executive-level consulting professionals, rigorous analytical research capabilities, group process techniques, best practices, and proven planning tools, which consistently produce remarkable outcomes.
     

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute:
    The mission of the Standards for Excellence Institute is to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to those standards by all nonprofit organizations. For more information about joining the Standards for Excellence Institute or to learn more about the ways the Institute serves nonprofits, visit www.standardsforexcellence.org. 

  • Congratulations to Ardmore Enterprises!

    Congratulations to Ardmore Enterprises!

    The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate Ardmore Enterprises 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.

    Ardmore Enterprises’ mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They serve adults in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Charles County through their programs, including residential, meaningful day, and employment services.

    Chief Executive Officer Lori Sedlezky said “The process for obtaining approval for Standards Accreditation was extremely beneficial and enlightening. It allowed us to explore opportunities to continue to improve our internal processes and documentation of services and activities that we engage in. Our board of directors is engaged, and actively promotes and supports agency initiatives. Increased awareness of the Standards has proven to be beneficial.”

    Congratulations again to Ardmore Enterprises for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly continue to 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.

  • Start the New Year right! Start with the nonprofit self-assessment.

    Happy New Year! 

    As nonprofit leaders we often start a new year with good intentions. We decide that this is the year that we get it all together. We are going to focus on the fundamentals of our organization. We are going to make sure we have the right board members and that they are working together effectively. We are going to focus carefully on our budgets and finances. This is the year where we truly take a careful look at diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are going to do “all the things.”

    But wait! How can we do all that? Where do we even start?

    The answer:
    Start with the Standards for Excellence free online self-assessment.

    Working through this assessment will allow you to carefully walk through a list of nonprofit best practices and determine areas that need some work.

    Start your new year off with this important first step towards building capacity, accountability, and sustainability in your nonprofit.
     

    Start your FREE online self-assessment NOW

     

    More information: 

    Standards for Excellence code

    Standards for Excellence accreditation

    Where to get help: Licensed Consultants

     

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    For Immediate Release 

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen
    Director, Standards for Excellence Institute®

    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org
    443-438-2314  

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    Baltimore, MD – December 11, 2023 – The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces its 2023 Class of Licensed Consultants. Twenty-six 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 class represent organizations from states across the country, including Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

    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 2024 training – learn more and sign up to be notified when applications are available.

    Testimonials:

    Arianna Ross, of Poolesville, MD, spoke about the training: “I learned so much more than I could have imagined about the best practices for running and partnering with a nonprofit.  It is my hope that with this knowledge I can support not only my nonprofit, Story Tapestries, but also others in the community, allowing them to reach for the stars and become accredited. This course is a gift that will keep on giving over time.“

    April Mastroluca, of Henderson, NV, shared: “The Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training Program introduced me to new ways of looking at topics and issues I have been working with for over 20 years. The program also gave me the opportunity to hear perspectives and ideas from the other class participants, consultants, and nonprofit professionals from across the country. Now I can share this knowledge with nonprofit organizations in Nevada knowing that I am sharing proven best practices and resources to help organizations focus on achieving their mission.”

     

    Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant Class of 2023
     

    Introducing the Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2023:       (*Participated as a member of a replication partner organization)

    Sonji Branch
    Bartlett, TN

    Miriam Dicks
    Greenville, SC

    *Alex Fizz
    Wilmington, DE

    Rikisha Goree
    Upper Marlboro, MD

    Glenda Hicks
    Conyers, GA

    *Dorian Hines
    Memphis, TN

    Mya Hodge
    Pikesville, MD

    Jeffrey Holmes
    Bowie, MD

    Tara Huffman
    Windsor Mill, MD

    Wendy Jeffries
    Baltimore, MD

    Lili Leonard
    Dickerson, MD

    April Mastroluca
    Henderson, NV

    Erin McDermott
    Challis, ID

    *Lauri Monetti
    Edmond, OK

    Janet Olajide
    Columbia, MD

    Kandi Pickard
    Fort Wayne, IN

    Christopher Pineda
    Parkville, MD

    Tinesar Priester
    Wilmington, DE

    *Justine Ramos
    Baltimore, MD

    Michelle Ray
    Wilmington, DE

    Arianna Ross
    Poolesville, MD

    Joan Webb Scornaienchi
    Columbia, MD

    Dominique Stiger
    Rosedale, MD

    Amanda Wagner
    Largo, MD

    Laura Whitaker
    Lexington, KY

    Corae Young
    Waldorf, MD

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits 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 311 Licensed Consultants and 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Currently, there are nearly 200 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.

     

     

  • Best Practices in Board Recruitment

    Best Practices in Board Recruitment 
    by Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone, Strategy Solutions

    The time has come for you to recruit a new board member. You’re probably feeling stress, excitement, and overwhelm from the nagging question of “where do we even begin?”

    Worry no more! The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector offers best practices for board recruitment so that you can effectively fill your open seat. Like many things, it all begins with some basic knowledge.

    Understand the concept of Strategic Board Diversity and its importance to the leadership of your organization.

    The Board Composition Standard states, “The board of directors shall be comprised of persons representing the diversity of the community that we serve, taking into account race, gender, economic status, age, and other factors.”

    You might be wondering who is responsible to ensure that your board composition reflects the diversity of the community. Many boards find out that no one is really responsible, which is why it’s recommended that every nonprofit have a Governance Committee.

    The Board Governance Committee will monitor board composition, encourage board development, assess board effectiveness, and more. Once this committee is in place, you’re ready for the next step in board recruitment.

    Identify the skill sets needed to support your organization’s strategic vision and direction.

    According to Hildy Gottleib, author of Board Recruitment and Orientation, every board should have 3 criteria for board member recruitment:

    • Must have
    • Would be nice
    • Never in a million years

    The more specific the criteria you set for what you want (and don’t want) in a board member, the more likely you are to find it. All nonprofits should develop an ideal model of board composition based on community demographics and the organizational needs in order to advance the strategic plan.

    You can be as broad or narrow as you want in the characteristics you believe to be important to board service. Here are 4 steps to achieve desired diversity:

    1. Be clear about the characteristics you’re looking for.
    2. Don’t be afraid to create the “ideal” profile combination, even if you think that person doesn’t exist.
    3. Write down the profile (committing it to writing makes it real).
    4. Create a board application form to gather the information that you’re looking for in a candidate.

    Now that you know what you want in a board member, it’s time to find them!

    Implement strategies to connect with new potential board candidates that will meet your needs.

    A critical success factor in creating a diverse board is looking beyond the people that your current board members know personally.

    Proactive Strategic Networking revolves around the idea that all people, on average, are six or fewer social connections away from each other. In most communities/regions, it’s more like two or three.

    So, how can you begin to network to recruit the people you want and need on your board?

    • Brainstorm a list of people / organizations to network with.
    • Prepare a recruitment packet (including organization background, history, goals, and ideal candidate profile) to share with non-board members.
    • Create member assignments for outreach.
    • Utilize social media and digital advertising to spread the word about your open seat.
    • Follow up with non-board members helping your recruitment efforts.

    Reach out for help if you feel the recruitment process could be made simpler and more effective.

    Sometimes knowing the best practices for board recruitment isn’t enough to fill your open seat, and that’s okay!

    With more than 20 years of experience, Strategy Solutions has worked with both nonprofit and for-profit sectors through organizational change and growth. Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone are licensed consultants, trainers and peer reviewers for The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants are independent consultants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to work with nonprofit organizations across the country that are interested in implementing, and becoming accredited by, the Standards for Excellence Institute.

    Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing your board succeed!

    About Strategy Solutions Inc.

    For over 25 years, Strategy Solutions Inc. has been providing innovative solutions to ensure the sustainability of nonprofit, public, and private organizations, and to create healthier communities. Our approach is unique and incorporates the expertise of executive-level consulting professionals, rigorous analytical research capabilities, group process techniques, best practices, and proven planning tools, which consistently produce remarkable outcomes.

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute:

    The mission of the Standards for Excellence Institute is to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to those standards by all nonprofit organizations. For more information about joining the Standards for Excellence Institute or to learn more about the ways the Institute serves nonprofits, visit www.standardsforexcellence.org. 

  • Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards.

    Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards.

    Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards. 

    August 16, 2023

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

    Baltimore, MD ̶  The Standards for Excellence® Institute, a nation-wide initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, today announces a partnership with Social Venture Partners (SVP) Dallas, part of a global network of philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers dedicated to building their communities. The program will be offered by SVP Dallas’ Nonprofit Impact Institute. As a Standards for Excellence® replication partner, SVP Dallas will bring the full complement of Standards for Excellence® educational resources, expertise, and programming to the nonprofit organizations served by the organization’s 200+ Social Venture Partners (members).

    Heather Iliff, President & CEO of the Standards for Excellence Institute, states: “We are excited to partner with SVP Dallas in their work to strengthen nonprofits in North Texas in order to create the greatest possible impact.”

    North Texas nonprofits affiliated with SVP Dallas of all sizes can benefit from the content-rich training, assessment tools, resource materials, and technical assistance provided by the new SVP Dallas Standards for Excellence® program. The Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector is the centerpiece of the program. It focuses on principles of honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability in nonprofit program operations, governance, human resources, financial management, and fundraising.

    “SVP Dallas Partners bring together a wide range of professional expertise across industries and a passion for addressing the root causes of social injustice in North Texas. Partnering with the Standards for Excellence allows SVP Dallas to continue to support our expert Partners in honing the skills and knowledge they bring to the table in building the capacity of social impact organizations in our community.” Tony Fleo, CEO of SVP Dallas

    Area nonprofits can also benefit from working with the 28 professionals who became Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants by completing an intensive, three-day training seminar held in Dallas from June 6 to June 8, 2023. These Licensed Consultants, working in concert with teams of SVP Dallas Partners, will use their extensive expertise and this new resource to provide SVP Dallas portfolio organizations with additional training, organizational assessments, and assistance with becoming formally accredited through the Standards for Excellence Recognition and Accreditation programs.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants for the Nonprofit Impact Institute remarked:

    “The Standards for Excellence licensed consulting program has developed an accessible and professional benchmark for all nonprofit organizations to follow. I am thrilled to put the standards into practice to enhance the capacity and impact of nonprofits in my community.”   Christine Vu

    “I have spent considerable time on frameworks for driving change. These include the Baldridge Quality award, SOX, COSO, ISO9000 and others. The Standards for Excellence training provided insight for application in not-for-profits in a way that is uniquely suited for that purpose. I am very much looking forward to using the expertise codified and available through the program.”  George Ellis

    SVP Dallas has begun to incorporate Standards for Excellence® resources into their Social Impact Advising program during this cycle and will be rolling out further resources over the coming months through the Nonprofit Impact Institute. Nonprofits and professionals in North Texas (including Dallas, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, and Wise counties) that are interested in learning more about advising or becoming a Partner should go to svpdallas.org or contact SVP Dallas at 214-855-5520 or dogoodbetter@svpdallas.org. For more information on the Standards for Excellence Institute®, contact Amy Coates Madsen, Director at 443-438-2314 or acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org.

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits 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 266 Licensed Consultants and 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its inception, more than 200 individual nonprofit organizations 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.

    About SVP Dallas

    Social Venture Partners is a global network of local Partners aligning passion and purpose helping to build communities able to solve our most entrenched problems. Their focus of helping individuals realize greater impact with their giving, strengthening social impact organizations, and investing in collaborative solutions helps make connections that make a difference and unleash potential. To learn more, visit svpdallas.org.

     

     

     

    Introducing the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of June 2023:   
     

    Amit Banerjee
    Frisco, Texas

    Wendy Bateman
    Dallas, Texas

    Nadine Dechausay
    Dallas, Texas

    Gwen Echols
    Dallas, Texas

    George Ellis
    Dallas, Texas

    Christina Hanger
    Dallas, Texas

    Nicholas Hawkins
    Grand Prairie Texas

    Ted Thomas Herrod
    Dallas, Texas

    Susan Horning
    Northlake, Texas

    Mary M. Jalonick
    Dallas, Texas

    Danielle King
    Dallas, Texas

    Anthony Llano
    Frisco, Texas

    Suzanne Massey
    Dallas, Texas

    Heather McClure
    Dallas, Texas

    Alicia McGlinchey
    Dallas, Texas

    Karem Montemayor
    Dallas, Texas

    Jennifer Owen
    Dallas, Texas

    Elizabeth Price
    Mansfield, Texas

    Darby Teal Ross
    Dallas, Texas

    Aabid Shivji
    Grapevine, Texas

    Jordan Smith
    Dallas, Texas

    Christian Smith
    Carrollton, Texas

    Christine Vu
    Carrollton, Texas

    Grace McClure Topete
    Richardson, Texas

    Evy Kay Washburne
    Dallas, Texas

    Harden H. Wiedemann
    Dallas, Texas

    Christopher Young
    Dallas, Texas

    Donna Young
    Dallas, Texas 

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of June 2023

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of June 2023 

    Baltimore, MD – July 27, 2023 The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces the June 2023 class of Licensed Consultants. Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the Institute held an exclusive, comprehensive training, graduating five new licensed professionals equipped to support nonprofits nationwide.

    As Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants, these individuals have the expertise and ability to guide organizations in governance and management best practices. They also have knowledge of organizational assessments, and can provide consulting, training, and assistance in the application process for national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    The new class of Licensed Consultants includes:

    Diane Mallery
    Philadelphia, PA

    Shannon Mason
    Trenton, NJ

    R Perry Monastero
    Philadelphia, PA

    Linda Rentschler
    Hamburg, PA

    Dayna Sear
    New Castle, PA

    Licensed Consultant Diane Mallery of Dunleavy & Associates shared her thoughts: “I found the Standards for Excellence Institute training to be extremely valuable; kudos to the knowledgeable training leaders. It gave me a wonderful tool kit of resources to bring to my consulting work, and it was great to network with the other professionals participating in the training.”

    Heather Giampapa, Director of Standards for Excellence and Development, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations offered, “We are grateful for the dedication and commitment shown by these Standards for Excellence Pennsylvania Licensed Consultants. We are delighted that they can now expand their services in other states, supporting even more nonprofits in their use of the Standards for Excellence to strengthen their operations and governance.”

    The Licensed Consultant program has grown each year since its inception in 2006. A searchable directory of consultants can be found on the Standards for Excellence Institute website.

    Those interested can learn more about becoming a Licensed Consultant and sign up to be notified when applications for the 2024 Class of Licensed Consultants are available.

    The Standards for Excellence Institute, an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits, uses the Standards for Excellence program as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for Excellence program works to help nonprofit organizations act ethically and accountably in their management and governance, while enhancing the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen
    Director Standards for Excellence Institute
    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org

  • Spring is here! Are you ready?

    Nonprofit Leaders – it may not feel like it yet, with many days being marked with cooler weather, but spring is here. When the days finally get consistently warm, you’ll want to be outside, attending events and reconnecting with colleagues. So now is the time to get that spring cleaning done!

    For many of you, spring cleaning involves focusing on the fundamentals of your organization, intentionally dusting off your policies and procedures, checking in on your organization’s health, and putting plans in place. Plans to ensure you have the right set of board members who are working together effectively. Plans to spend time focused on your finances and budgets. Plans to truly look closely at diversity, equity, and inclusion in your organization.

    The perfect way to start this process is with the Standards for Excellence self-assessment.

    Doing this free, online assessment will help you clear out some cobwebs, allow you to focus on best practices, and start you on a clean path to building capacity, accountability, and sustainability in your organization.

    After completing the assessment, you will have a detailed, actionable, professional, polished report, with links to resources, to share with your leadership and guide you forward.

    Start your spring cleaning now with the free Standards for Excellence online self-assessment.

    More information:

    Standards for Excellence code

    Standards for Excellence accreditation

    Start your FREE online self-assessment NOW

  • Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Offer Special Program for Arts Nonprofits

    Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Offer Special Program for Arts Nonprofits

    Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County offer special program for arts nonprofits in Anne Arundel County and nonprofits EXCEL by earning Standards for Excellence® Awards

     

    An amazing opportunity for Anne Arundel County arts programs aspiring to be more sustainable, build lasting relationships within their network, strengthen their boards of directors, and improve their organization’s performance was presented in 2017. The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County collectively created a proposal to help strengthen arts nonprofits in Anne Arundel County. Funders collaborated with the Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence Institute and together decided to initiate a cohort named The Arts and Culture Standards for Excellence Cohort to benefit Anne Arundel County residents. A group of generous donors with the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County stepped in to support this important initiative.

     

    In the summer of 2017, Maryland Nonprofits held a special information session about the best practices espoused by the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector and the upcoming cohort opportunity. Cohort applications were submitted, and eleven cohort members were chosen after an intensive review. Over a period of eighteen months, the organizations selected for the cohort participated in:

    • Three hours of Board Excellence training instructed by Mara Winters of Maryland Nonprofits,

    • Sixteen hours of Standards for Excellence Clinic Series training taught by Standards for Excellence Director Amy Coates Madsen and Licensed Consultant Pat Hanberry,

    • Four hours of coaching, and,

    • Six hours of cohort assistance conference calls.

     

    The Clinic Series training sessions were offered over two full days and hosted by two of the cohort members, The Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, and the Chesapeake Arts Center. These stimulating, educational courses focused on six guiding principles of the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Topics addressed included important areas in nonprofit governance and management such as board governance, conflicts of interest, financial policies, fundraising, and public policy. The cohort conference calls offered each member the opportunity to delve deeper into the six guiding principles of the Standards for Excellence code. The coaching sessions were personalized and centered around each organization’s individual goals, questions, and concerns. Participating members were also required to complete applications for Standards for Excellence Basics, Basics Enhanced, or full accreditation. All cohort members submitted applications to the accreditation and recognition program.

     

    Organizations that successfully completed their accreditation or recognition by Fall 2020 were celebrated at the 2020 Maryland Nonprofits Annual Conference via an award presentation hosted by Natasha Cavanaugh (of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Standards for Excellence Council Chair). The Arts and Culture Standards for Excellence Cohort members were acknowledged for achieving the Standards for Excellence accreditation and Standards Basics and Basics Enhanced recognition. The Community Foundation and Arts Council were also recognized for their leadership in the program.

     

    As of June 2021, all eleven members of The Arts and Culture Standards for Excellence Cohort to Benefit Anne Arundel County Residents have earned Standards for Excellence accreditation, Standards for Excellence Basics recognition or Standards for Excellence Basics Enhanced Recognition.

     

    Full Accreditation:

    Those who received their accreditation have worked hard to gain the highly anticipated privilege to display the Standards for Excellence Seal of Excellence. The Seal also indicates that an organization is committed to equity and inclusion, that their board is leading effectively, and that their programs are continuously evaluated. By earning the coveted Seal of Excellence, a nonprofit is proudly saying that all stakeholders can have confidence in the organization’s quality of programs, accountability, openness, and commitment to best practices.

     

    Annapolis Maritime Museum

    Annapolis Opera Company

    Chesapeake Arts Center

    Encore Creativity for Older Adults

    Maryland Concert Series

    Maryland Federation of Art

    Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts

     

    Basics Enhanced Recognition:

    The Musical Autist

     

    Basics Recognition:

    Annapolis Arts District

    Annapolis Film Festival

    The Creative and Performing Arts of South County

     

     

    During the Standards for Excellence Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Nonprofits Annual Conference, several cohort members shared their insights and experiences:

    Mr. F. Joseph Gormley, President of Annapolis Arts District, a cohort member that achieved Basics recognition, shared that they “chose to seek Standards for Excellence certification because we feel that all stakeholders benefit when they have confidence that resources will be used effectively and efficiently…”

    Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park President Alice Estrada expressed that they were “thrilled to have achieved the Standards for Excellence certification …confident that we have the best guidelines, policies, and procedures…it will allow us to continue our trajectory for growth.”

    Maryland Federation of Art Executive Director JoAnn Vaughan shared that “Standards for Excellence has given us a renewed sense of purpose”.

    Chesapeake Arts Center Strategic Initiatives Advisor, Belinda Fraley Huesman, articulated their experience by stating, “Grateful for the opportunity to participate, thank you to Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County…put us above board in all policies and procedure…true learning experience…cannot wait to put the seal on our website…”

     

    The cohort members, supporters, and organizers concur that this concept can and should be repeated with additional groups of nonprofits. The Standards for Excellence Institute provides exclusive educational material that proves to be positively beneficial to the sustainability of nonprofit organizations. The lead consultant on this project, Pat Hanberry, offered, “the Standards for Excellence Arts and Culture Cohort was an excellent model and should be replicated,” she highlighted that “regardless of where they were in their development, each member acquired additional knowledge from the experience.”

    Mary Spencer, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) shared, “CFAAC is very proud of the partnership we established with the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and Maryland Nonprofits that ensured the success of this creative opportunity to strengthen our local arts nonprofits. The collaboration was further strengthened by a group of passionate donors who had the vision to establish our first-ever arts cohort; a group formed to support peer learning and support as they completed this program. Kudos to all.”

    “The Anne Arundel arts community is grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a worthy program. The Arts Council recognizes a marked improvement in operations for the organizations participating in this cohort. We applaud the generous donors, Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, and Maryland Nonprofits,” offered April Nyman, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County.

    Nonprofit leaders who wish to strengthen their organization will discover that the Standards for Excellence Institute provides solutions to organizations at a variety of different levels focused on building their capacity and strengthening their work in meeting their missions. Participating in the Arts and Culture Standards for Excellence Cohort to benefit Anne Arundel County residents has placed members in the position to become more viable, create lifelong meaningful connections within their network, reinforce their board of directors, and amplify their organization’s performance.

  • How Do I Prevent Conflicts of Interest at My Organization?

    How Do I Prevent Conflicts of Interest at My Organization?

    This is part of a special series, brought to you by the Standards for Excellence Institute, to provide nonprofit leaders with a brief nonprofit governance and management tip weekly over the course of 2020. We hope these short tips will be helpful to you and the nonprofits you serve. If you have suggestions for future topics, please forward these to acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org.

    Its that time of year again! For many nonprofit boards, this is the time of year when all active board members are asked to complete an annual conflict of interest disclosure form. Such forms should be completed when an individual (such as board member, staff member or volunteer with decision making authority) becomes affiliated with a nonprofit organization and annually thereafter. 

    Conflicts of interest involving nonprofit board members, employees, or volunteers can undermine the public’s trust and confidence in any nonprofit. It is important that nonprofits have policies in place to address conflicts of interest to maintain public trust and ensure that the organization is compliant with requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations. Conflicts of interest can not only harm the organization’s reputation but could even result in the loss of tax-exempt status.

    Each nonprofit should have a board-approved conflict of interest policy and statement that is applicable to “board members, staff, and volunteers who have significant, independent decision-making authority regarding the resources of the organization.” A conflict of interest policy should “identify the types of conduct or transactions that raise conflict of interest concerns, should set forth procedures for disclosure of actual or potential conflicts, and should provide a review of individual transactions by the uninvolved members of the board of directors.” (Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.) The conflict of interest statement should also provide space for individuals to disclose any known interests that they or a member of their immediate family may have.  Each organization should carefully and consistently follow the tenets of its conflict of interest policy throughout the year.

    More information is available in the Standards for Excellence educational packet on conflicts of interest which outlines what conflicts of interest are, how to identify them, and what conflict of interest policies and procedures should look like. This educational resource packet and the full series of all packets  – including sample policies, tools and model procedures to help nonprofits achieve best practices in their governance and management – can be accessed by contacting a licensed Standards for Excellence replication partner, one of the over 150 Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants, or by becoming a member of the Standards for Excellence Institute. Amy Coates Madsen, Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, has also written a blog entitled Three Tips to Prevent Conflicts of Interest at Your Nonprofit.