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April 10-16, 2016 marks the 42nd annual National Volunteer Week, an initiative sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation designed to inspire, recognize and encourage people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.

We at the Standards for Excellence Institute would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincerest gratitude to our over 100 nonprofit experts who volunteer their time and expertise to the Standards for Excellence program. Volunteering as a Standards for Excellence Peer Reviewer, or serving on the Ethics Standards Committee, is a truly special type of experience. Unlike more traditional volunteer roles, Standards for Excellence volunteers are experienced nonprofit professionals who receive extensive training to evaluate organization applications for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Utilizing a volunteer review process ensures that individuals with diverse opinions and expertise in the nonprofit sector review application packages, and that the outcomes will be fair and unbiased.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year since, drawing the support and endorsement of all subsequent U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials.

National Volunteer Week is not only an opportunity to celebrate our volunteers, but to enable the Standards community to share their ideas, practices, and stories about voluntarism. We invite you to leave your comments on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages where we’ll be celebrating National Volunteer Week all week long! Tell us about your volunteer experiences, give a shout out to volunteers at your organizations, or just give a big thanks to all those who take action and foster positive change.

Volunteers with the Standards for Excellence accreditation and recognition programs are specially selected to represent a wide cross-section of the nonprofit sector. Each volunteer possesses several years of experience in the development or execution of nonprofit management or governance, and great analytical skills. In addition to the opportunity to strengthen ethics and accountability in the nonprofit sector, many who work with nonprofit organizations find volunteering with the Standards for Excellence Institute a valuable opportunity for networking and professional development. We invite you to lean more about our volunteer Peer Reviewer and Ethics Standards Committee programs today!

The Standards for Excellence Institute is committed to helping you increase your nonprofit effectiveness and we are proud to announce that we have scheduled TEN exclusive learning webinars to our events calendar throughout 2016. In addition to two introductory webinars that provide an overview of the Standards for Excellence program, a series of topical webinars are available that delve deeper into specific areas of the Standards for Excellence code to help increase nonprofit effectiveness.

The Standards for Excellence Institute is committed to raising the level of principled and responsible nonprofit governance practices within the nonprofit sector. Our nationally-adopted Standards for Excellence^®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector provides a model for organizations to implement so they can gain a deeper understanding of their effectiveness, improve their decision‐making and minimize risks. We have created this series of learning opportunities for nonprofit leaders, board members, and professionals to gain an in-depth knowledge of Standards for Excellence program and to attain the resources necessary to put it into practice.

Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute and Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants are eligible to receive 50% off the registration price of every webinar! Members and consultants should login to their online accounts to obtain their exclusive coupon code prior to registering.

Not a member? Learn more and join to receive your discounts today!

In addition to this topical webinar series, three comprehensive Pass to Excellence seminars will be taking place on the east coast this spring. The Pass to Excellence seminar is designed for nonprofit leaders to acquire an in-depth knowledge of Standards for Excellence Ethics and Accountability Code and to attain the resources necessary to put it into practice. During the day-long seminar, our Standards for Excellence expert staff will work with attendees to develop a tailored work plan for each organization to implement key areas outlined in this vetted code. This plan will help leaders strengthen the management, governance, and operations of their organizations with concrete strategies and best practices. Attendees will also gain comprehensive strategies should they consider earning the Seal of Excellence through the Standards for Excellence accreditation program.

Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute are also eligible to receive 50% off the registration price of the Pass to excellence programs on April 27 and May 11! Members should login to their online accounts to obtain their exclusive coupon code prior to registering.

Not a member? Learn more and join to receive your discounts today!

Below is a list of upcoming events, but be sure to check out our events calendar to see the full schedule.

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Commit to increasing your nonprofit effectiveness today!

We’re pleased to bring you this guest blog post about nominating your nonprofit’s board president, written by Susan Detwiler of The Detwiler Group.  Susan is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.  Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants are an elite group of independent consultants that have been selected by the Standards for Excellence Institute and have received extensive training in using the Standards for Excellence code and program materials for the advancement of their work and the nonprofits and other institutions with whom they work.  To find a Licensed Consultant in your area, check out the online listing of Licensed Consultants. And be sure to follow Susan’s informative blog at detwiler.com.

Campaigns, Caucuses, Primaries & Promises……

It’s the quadrennial Presidential election season, and everyone wants your vote. 

While a contested election may be good for the country, doing the same for your nonprofit just distracts you from delivering your mission.

Especially if your entire organization is committed to the same mission and your whole board supports the strategic plan.

Then what makes a good nominee for president? What makes a good nominee for ANY officer on your board? These are the questions your nominating committee should answer.

Before asking WHO, figure out what your board president needs to do the job.

Here are a few questions to start you off:

• What level of commitment and drive does our president need, in order to keep our plan on track?
• What skills does our president need to be able to keep our board focused on the future?
• What kind of president -> CEO relationship will make it possible for us to achieve our goals?
• What specific knowledge should our president have upon entering the role, and what knowledge can be acquired on the job?

Only after answering those questions, should you start seeking a president from among your board members. Because then you’ll know how to evaluate whether they’re ready for the job.

Similar questions can be asked about any board officer position. What questions would YOU ask, before contemplating a new secretary, treasurer, vice president?

The post was originally published by the Detwiler Group.  Susan Detwiler is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant who specializes in strategic planning, governance, board excellence and facilitation. Located in the Mid-Atlantic, she works with agencies across the United States. Have some thoughts to share on this subject?  Get in touch with her at sdetwiler@detwiler.com.

The following post on the importance of nonprofit advocacy originally appeared in The Journal Record and was written by Marnie Taylor, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, a replication partner of the Standards for Excellence Institute.

Marnie Taylor

This week, the Oklahoma Legislature convened in the Capitol to consider policy and an unprecedented budget failure that will affect every citizen in our state. Last month, I spoke with a number of nonprofit leaders in Oklahoma and reminded them that as nonprofits, it is our duty to inform, educate, enlighten and empower through our missions. Whether we provide social services, education, arts and culture or other services, nonprofits can and must advocate for their missions.

While so much nonprofit advocacy and public education happens at the grass-roots level, I also encourage nonprofits to start with their boards to stand for their missions.

While boardrooms are traditionally filled with conversation about fiduciary oversight and fundraising, nonprofit advocacy must be a central part of that conversation.

Nonprofits should start by initiating a conversation with their board to help members understand the real impact of their missions. Through a depth of knowledge, nonprofit boards can set a vision that is aspirational and can attain a wide variety of community changes. Board members who understand the work of a nonprofit make better advocates and champions for their organizations. They can envision a world changed by missions and assess and develop better strategies to implement programs.

I encourage nonprofits to regularly educate board members about big-picture issues that affect constituents. On boards, learning about the greater realities and problems helped me make better decisions that were strategic and in the best interests of those we served.

I would also encourage nonprofits to make advocacy and public education a core function of a board and part of the culture and values of that organization. Draw board members together with common beliefs and values and then turn those into action. Engage the board at every meeting, encourage board members to utilize their own spheres of influence in advocacy.

Now, more than ever, organizations should work hard to engage all board members, staff, volunteers and consumers in the advocacy process. Decisions at the Capitol will have effects on our sector – regardless of an organization’s funding streams. Great nonprofits make advocacy and public education a priority, and there is no time like the present to ensure your board has a strong voice in the advocacy process.

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits has been a Standards for Excellence Replication Partner since 2006. Replication Partners are licensed to offer Standards for Excellence program materials, educational resources, training curricula, and public education information to nonprofit organizations in a specific location or group of affiliates. Visit www.oklahomacenterfornonprofits.org or www.standardsforexcellence.org/replication-partners/ to learn more. 

#nonprofitadvocacy