Standards for Excellence Application Information

Modifications to the Newest Version of the Standards for Excellence® Application Package and Checklist

The 2010 edition of the Standards for Excellence® Application Package and Checklist is now available. This edition incorporates the following changes from the 2008 version:

Application Instructions:

Applications will remain open up to one year from the date of submission.  After one year has passed, the organization will be asked to submit an additional application fee to keep the application active for an additional year.  Applicants may also choose to withdraw their application and re-apply at a later date.

Governing Board:

• Applicants are asked whether the decisions made by committees that have been delegated decision-making authority reported to the full board.
• Applicants are requested to provide a copy of the organization’s compensation structure.
• Applicants are asked to provide a demographic breakdown of the community served by the organization.
• Providing the board minutes that illustrate the board’s discussion of the results of its self-evaluation is now requested.
• The question asking whether board minutes are distributed to board and committee members was removed.

Financial and Legal:

• The revenue threshold that necessitates an audit was raised to $500,000.
• Applicants are asked to management’s response to any recommendations raised in the auditor’s management letter.

Human Resources:

• Sample employee position descriptions are no longer requested.

Openness:

• Applicants are no longer asked to describe the procedures the organization has in place for allowing members of the general public to provide input to the organization.

Fundraising:

• Sample pledge cards are no longer requested.

• Applicants are no longer asked to disclose whether they are supported by a Type III organization.

• The formula for calculating fundraising expenses and revenues using the Form 990 EZ was added.

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