How to Earn the Seal of Excellence®:

The Voluntary Certification Program

Maryland Nonprofits offers a voluntary, peer-review, certification program for nonprofit organizations that demonstrate that they abide by the Standards.  As part of the certification process, organizations must submit a written application, provide documentation, and pay an application fee.  A panel of trained peer-reviewers assesses the applicant's practices and determines if the applicant has met the Standards.  The Standards Committee considers recommendations by the peer review team, which make the final decision.  Certified organizations are given permission to use the Seal of Excellence, a symbol the public and donors alike can trust.

Standards for Excellence®: A Symbol of Trust

Only organizations that demonstrate their compliance with the Standards are given permission to use the Seal of Excellence.

The Seal of Excellence is a symbol of trust.

Organizations that display the seal not only obey the law, but go beyond the minimum requirements set forth by government regulation.

The Seal of Excellence is a symbol for excellence in nonprofit management.

Organizations that display the seal are guided by a well-defined mission, have evaluation systems in place to measure the effectiveness of their programs, and adhere to sound financial management policies.

The Seal of Excellence is a symbol of excellence in leadership.

Organizations that display the seal are led by a volunteer board of directors that accepts responsibility to oversee the organization's mission, policies, programs, human and financial resources.

The Seal of Excellence is a symbol of openness and disclosure in nonprofits.

Organizations that display the seal have information available to the public, provide truthful responsible stewardship of all donations, and provide a voice for their constituents.

According to a recent public opinion poll, 85% of Marylanders asserted that whether or not a charity has a seal of approval for ethical standards and accountability given by a reputable association is an important factor in making giving decisions.

Go to Application Information

View list of Certified Organizations

If you suspect that a certified group is in violation of one or more of the Standards, click here to learn about the reporting procedure or to initiate a formal report

Back to Standards for Excellence®