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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
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 Introductory Courses>>

 

Standards for Excellence® Clinic Series

For organizations interested in participating in the voluntary certification program, enrolling in the Standards for Excellence Application Clinic is encouraged. This four session course combines classroom instruction and peer-to-peer learning and covers every Standard in the Standards for Excellence®. Organizations enrolled in the clinic series may send multiple representatives to each session. The series generally takes place over two to three months. At the conclusion of the series, organizations will be well on their way to completing the Standards for Excellence® application. If your organization submits the application within a year of completing the clinic series, you will receive a $100 rebate from your Standards application fee. Contact Standards staff for the additional information about the next scheduled clinic series.

View Upcoming Clinic Series>>

 

In addition, many of the training programs offered in our Winter/Spring, Spring/Summer, and Fall/Winter 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 a collection of 22 Educational Resource Packets that are intended to assist individual organizations to implement specific standards. These materials are available to all Maryland Nonprofits members free of charge.

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 articles and other copyrighted documents which have been obtained from other sources. Many of the packets include model policies developed my Maryland Nonprofits' staff of experts.

Collectively, the 22 Educational Resource Packets cover each of the 55 Standards. The following 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

Educational Resource Packets are available to members of Maryland Nonprofits free of charge. If you would like to request an educational resource packet, please contact Standards staff. You can also download a copy of the Educational Resource Packets in the Members Only section. 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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