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Launch of New Standards for Excellence

Event Overview 

Join us on February 20th as we officially launch a new version of the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, as well as an expanded set of program resources! 

The Standards for Excellence® program has been at the heart of Maryland Nonprofits since its inception in 1996 and has served as the foundation and guiding force for partners around the country since 2001. In its 2025 re-release, the Standards for Excellence program has been thoughtfully updated to ensure it is as accessible and applicable as possible to a wide range of nonprofit organizations. This revision process involved collaboration with a diverse group of nonprofit leaders, whose insights reflect the breadth of perspectives within the sector. The Standards for Excellence code provides actionable guidance that meets nonprofits where they are, supporting their growth and adaptability in an ever-changing landscape—all while centering ethics, equity, transparency, and practical application. New program resources developed by experts now include a user-friendly collection of 49 educational packets, and new and updated tools, samples, and models for nonprofit leaders to use as they navigate the challenges of nonprofit governance and management. 

The program focuses on strengthening nonprofits’ ability to achieve their missions, regardless of their size, location, or focus area. The standards are designed to foster trust, bolster accountability, and promote high-quality services—outcomes that benefit organizations and the communities they serve.

At this session, you will:

  1. Learn about how the Standards for Excellence code has been updated in order to continue to serve nonprofit leaders in 2025 and beyond
  2. Learn about the best practices related to nonprofit management and governance and how Standards for Excellence benchmarks have been changed and enhanced
  3. Understand the new Standards with an emphasis resources and tools, and the accreditation process. 

Speaker:  Amy Coates Madsen, Director
Standards for Excellence Institute

Date and Time: February 20, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Location Virtual

Ticket Pricing

Member Ticket: FREE
Non-Member Ticket: FREE
Nonprofit Development Center Ticket: FREE

REGISTER NOW

Experiencing Issues While Registering? Please contact our office at 410.727.6367.

Zoom closed captioning is provided in this virtual workshop. Please contact learning@mdnonprofit.org if you require additional accommodation.

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About the Author: Amy Coates Madsen

Amy Coates Madsen is the Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, a national initiative to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to standards by all organizations. The Standards for Excellence Institute is a program of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations where Amy has served for more than twenty-two years. Amy is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the association’s comprehensive ethics and accountability program and efforts to replicate the program nationally. She serves as a frequent trainer and writer in the areas of board conduct, program evaluation, program replication, fundraising ethics, and nonprofit management. She has taught courses on nonprofit ethics and accountability at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies Certificate Program on Nonprofit Management. She has held positions at the Trenton lobbying firm of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, and the Public Policy Liaison Unit at the world headquarters of Catholic Relief Services. Amy received her Master of Arts in Policy Studies degree from the Johns Hopkins University – Institute for Policy Studies in Baltimore, Maryland; and her Bachelors degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Amy is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Amy serves on the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). Amy is a former member of the Disaster Action Team of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross and is qualified to provide disaster preparedness training to children and adults. She has also served as the former President of Central Maryland CAN TOO and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the largest United Methodist Church in Baltimore City. She serves on the board of her children’s preschool PTA and is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Amy is currently leading an effort to establish an endowment for the Virginia Tech University Honors Program.