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Standards for Excellence® Implementation Tools

 

Maryland Nonprofits has developed an array of tools to help nonprofit organizations implement the Standards for Excellence®, including:

Training Programs
Written Educational Materials - login to access online
One-on-One Technical Assistance

 

Training Programs

Maryland Nonprofits offers a variety of training programs to help nonprofit implement all aspects of the Standards for Excellence®:

Standards for Excellence® Introductory Course

For organizations interested in a general introduction to the Standards for Excellence® program, the Introduction to the Standards for Excellence® course is appropriate. This three hour course provides an overview of all components of the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector and the Standards program. Participants have the opportunity to assess an organization with which they work according to the Standards and learn how to access available resources.

View Upcoming Standards for Excellence Courses>>

 

Standards for Excellence® Pass to Excellence

The "Pass to Excellence" provides organizations with an opportunity to learn about the specific elements of the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®, to assess themselves against its benchmarks, and to pursue training specific to their needs as they implement change and strengthen their organizations. The package includes one full-day training for two members of your organization, plus ten training vouchers that your organization can use toward any Maryland Nonprofits trainings that you think will help you implement the Standards®. For organizations interested in participating in the voluntary certification program, enrolling in the Standards for Excellence Pass to Excellence is encouraged.

View Upcoming Standards for Excellence Courses>>

 

In addition, many of the training programs offered in our training calendars help nonprofits implement various aspects of the Standards (look for the Standards logo in the training calendar). Click here to view the current Maryland Nonprofits training calendar.

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Written Educational Materials

Maryland Nonprofits has developed and maintains 23 educational resource packets for organizations interested in implementing various portions of the Standards for Excellence:  An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. The educational resource packets generally include information on the importance of implementing specific standards, justification for the standards, best practices associated with the issue, model procedures and sample policies. Structurally, they include a narrative memo and attachments. The attachments include both original materials created by Maryland Nonprofits, as well as documents that have been obtained with permission from other sources.

The Standards for Excellence® educational resource packets were prepared by conducting an exhaustive review of the literature on the particular topic, pulling the most useful information, creating original materials (including model policies) where the available information is not sufficient, and packaging the materials in an easy to use format. The cover memo for each packet provides a conceptual framework which is intended to help organizations make good use of the accompanying materials.

Collectively, the 23 packets cover each of the 55 standards in the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. The following Standards for Excellence® educational resource packets are available:
  1. Developing and Revising the Mission Statement
  2. Program Evaluation
  3. Program Service
  4. On-Going Planning by Organization's Board of Directors
  5. Compensation and Employee Evaluation
  6. Board Composition
  7. Conduct of the Board
  8. Conflict of Interest
  9. Personnel Policies and Employee Orientation
  10. Volunteer Policies
  11. Financial Planning and Monitoring in Nonprofit Organizations
  12. Reporting Financial Improprieties
  13. Financial Policies
  14. Legal Requirements Checklist
  15. Legal Compliance - Liability Issues
  16. Openness
  17. Fundraising Costs
  18. Fundraising Practices
  19. Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts
  20. Employment of Fundraising Personnel and Engagement of Fundraising Consultants
  21. Public Policy Advocacy, Promoting Public Participation
  22. Nonprofit Efforts to Educate the Public
  23. IRS Form 990 Governance and Management Policy Compendium

Download a detailed overview of the Standards for Excellence® Educational Resource Packets>>

Educational Resource Packets are available to members of Maryland Nonprofits free of charge.

Please note: In order to access the Ed Packets online, you will need to login - login here

If you would like to request an educational resource packet, please contact Standards staff.
If you would like information about joining Maryland Nonprofits click here.

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One-on-One Technical Assistance

For additional assistance implementing one or more aspects of the Standards for Excellence®, contact the Standards staff.

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