Educational Resource Packets

The Standards for Excellence Institute has an extensive library of educational resource packets for nonprofit organizations interested in implementing the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

The resource packets include extensive information on implementing specific standards, background information about the standards, best practices associated with each standard, model procedures, and sample policies.

The Standards for Excellence educational resource packets were prepared by conducting an exhaustive review of literature on a particular topic, curating 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 resources are updated regularly with new information and current practices.

Collectively, the resources cover each of the 67 standards in the Standards for Excellence code. These resource packets are available to members of the Standards for Excellence Institute and Replication Partners.

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Examples of What’s Included in the Educational Resource Packets

Board Member Responsibilities


“The board is made up of individuals who care deeply about the organization’s mission, who are from the community, and who understand their fiduciary duties — being responsible for the organization’s legal and financial well-being.

The board creates and reviews its bylaws and policies every three to five years to make sure the organization is governed and managed well.”
Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Nonprofit Sector

Learn about:

  • board’s governance and fiduciary responsibility,
  • board member’s legal responsibilities,
  • board member expectations,
  • strategic meeting agendas,
  • board member development and orientation,
  • board meetings and attendance,
  • and more.

The board member responsibilities packets includes:

  • sample bylaws
  • sample board evaluation,
  • position descriptions,
  • board member handbook,
  • board committees,
  • and more.

 

Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #24: Leadership and Governance Part 1: The Board’s Fiduciary Responsibility

Conflicts of Interest

“Nonprofits have written policies in place to make sure they make decisions in the best interest of their mission. Conflict of interest policies apply to board members, staff, and volunteers who make important decisions about the organization’s resources.

The policy explains how conflicts of interest are handled, including disclosure and review by the board. It mentions situations or transactions that might cause a conflict of interest, including both financial and non-financial issues. The policy provides that when a nonprofit considers an activity that might be a conflict of interest for one or more board members, the board members who are not involved will review the situation.

As part of this policy, there are instructions for considering when someone might have a conflict of interest and how to respond to it. The policy includes a statement for the board member, staff or volunteer to disclose any relationships they or someone in their family have with an organization that does business with the nonprofit. This form is completed when the person first joins the organization and at least once a year after that.”
Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Nonprofit Sector

Learn about:

  • why a conflict of interest policy is important and benefits of a policy
  • establishing a conflict of interest policy
  • identifying conflict of interest concerns
  • disclosure
  • independent review and approval
  • annual disclosure and review
  • other family relationships
  • duality of interest and confluence of interest

The Conflict of Interest packet includes:

  • model conflict of interest policy
  • sample questionnaire on family and business relationships

 

Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #24

Acceptance of Gifts

“The organization has policies about what to do with donations it receives. These policies include how to decide if it will accept a gift from certain individuals or organizations, the process for receiving a gift, what the donation will be used for, what kinds of property it will accept, and whether it accepts a special or unexpected gift based on its mission, values, and abilities.”
Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Nonprofit Sector

Learn about:

  • acceptance of gifts
  • determining who can accept gifts on behalf of the organization
  • building a gift acceptance policy

The Acceptance of Gifts packet includes:

  • Model Gift Solicitation and Acceptance Policy

 

Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #39

Working with Fundraisers

“Nonprofits may get help from staff, volunteers, consultants, contractors, or other organizations when raising money. Nonprofits make sure everyone who helps raise money follows their policies and obeys the laws.”
Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for Nonprofit Sector

Learn about:

  • working with fundraising professionals
  • exercising control over individuals or groups soliciting on the nonprofit’s behalf
  • building a gift acceptance policy

The Working with Fundraisers packet includes:

  • Sample Fundraising Agreement for Outside Organizations Raising Money Without Charge on behalf of Organization for Cause Marketing
  • Sample Agreement between Two Nonprofits entering a Fundraising Partnership
  • Sample Job Description for a Fundraiser as an Employee

 

Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #40

Other Topics Covered in the Educational Resource Packets Include:

  • Mission, Vision, Values and Impact,
  • Program Evaluation,
  • Maintaining Legal Compliance, 
  • Preparing the Budget,
  • Crisis and Disaster Management,
  • Engaging in Lobbying and Public Activity,
  • and many more

Members Can Access All These Valuable Resources

Access the Educational Resource Packets

Educational Resource Packets Titles

Section 1: Mission Strategy and Evaluation
Section 2: Leadership
Section 3: Ethics and Legal
Section 4: Finance and Operations
Section 5: Resource Development
Section 6: Public Engagement & Advocacy
  • Mission, Vision, Values and Impact (#1)
  • Planning Strategically Part 1 (#2)
  • Planning Strategically Part 2: Putting Plan into Action with a Community Lens (#3)
  • Organizational Evaluation (#4)
  • Program Evaluation (#5)
  • Strategic Partnerships (#6)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 1: The Board’s Fiduciary Responsibility (#7)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 2: The Board and Executive Partnership (#8)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 3: Board Effectiveness (#9)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 4: Succession Planning (#10)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 5: Board Member Independence ((#11)
  • Leadership and Governance Part 6: Board Meetings (#12)
  • Leadership and Operational Management Part 1: Functions of the Executive (#13)
  • Leadership and Operational Management Part 2: Supporting the Board (Creating Mutual Support) (#14)
  • Leadership and Operational Management Part 3: Organizational and Financial Stability (#15)
  • Leadership and Operational Management Part 4a: Managing Employees (#16
  • Leadership and Operational Management Part 4b: Managing Volunteers (#17)
  •  Leadership and Operational Management Part 5: Personnel and Volunteer Policies (#18) 
  • Justice, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (#19)
  • Ethics (#20)
  • Maintaining Legal Compliance (#21)
  • Required Public Disclosures (#22)
  • Reporting Misconduct and Whistleblower Protection (#23)
  • Conflicts of Interest (#24)
  • Budgeting, Reporting, and Monitoring Part 1: Preparing the Budget (#25)
  • Budgeting, Reporting, and Monitoring Part 2: Financial Reporting (#26)
  • Budgeting, Reporting, and Monitoring Part 3: Financial Stewardship (#27)
  • Budgeting, Reporting, and Monitoring Part 4: Audits (#28)
  • Financial Policies (#29)
  • Admin Policies: What are Administrative Policies(#30.1)
  • Admin Policies Federal and state required administrative policies (#30.2)
  • Admin policies: Crisis and Disaster Management (#30.3)
  • Admin Policies; Information Technology (#30.4)
  • Admin Policies: Communications and Social Media (#30.5)
  • Risk Management and Insurance (#31)
  • Resource Development Plan Part 1: Developing a Fundraising Plan (#32)
  • Resource Development Plan Part 2: Managing Fundraising Costs (#33)
  • Sources of Income (#34)
  • Fundraising Activities Part 1: Ethics (#35)
  • Fundraising Activities Part 2: Donor Intent (#36)
  • Fundraising Activities Part 3: Respectful Solicitations (#37)
  • Donor Relationships and Privacy (#38)
  • Acceptance of Gifts (#39)
  • Fundraising on Behalf of Organization Part 1: Working with Fundraisers (#40)
  • Fundraising on Behalf of the Organization Part 2: Registering for and Reporting on Fundraising (#41)
  • Fundraising on Behalf of the Organization Part 3: Paying Fundraisers (#42)
  • Educating and Engaging the Public (#43)
  • Advancing the Mission through Public Policy and Advocacy (#44)
  • Engaging in Lobbying and Election Related Activity (#45)