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.
Learn about:
The board member responsibilities packets includes:
Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #24: Leadership and Governance Part 1: The Board’s Fiduciary Responsibility
“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:
The Conflict of Interest packet includes:
Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #24
“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:
The Acceptance of Gifts packet includes:
Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #39
“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:
The Working with Fundraisers packet includes:
Standards for Excellence educational resource packet #40