There is more to running an ethical, accountable, and transparent nonprofit than just legal and accounting requirements. Boards of directors can set the tone for the organization by conducting regular reviews of core governing and operating policies and procedures. Check out these four things your board of directors can do to embrace ethical, accountable, and transparent values in the new year.[…]

The Standards for Excellence Institute has been following a news story in Baton Rouge that raises important questions related to best practices in governance and management of nonprofit charitable resources, and provides a sharp example of the importance of embracing best practices, as articulated in the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.[…]

This article was originally published on the Grants Managers Network (GMN) Blog on March 1, 2017. Amy Coates Madsen, Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute®, is presenting at the GMN 12th Annual Conference on March 20, 2017 in Hollywood, CA. Click here to read more about her session, "Embracing the Best Practices: How Grantmakers Are Using the Standards for Excellence® in their Capacity Building and Due Diligence Efforts." As a foundation executive you have a multitude of nonprofits[…]

Happy New Year! There are so many things that mark the beginning of the calendar year for me. Choosing or designing a new calendar, enjoying the holiday decorations for a few more days (or perhaps, weeks) after the rush of the holidays is behind us, and generally, having that feeling of a fresh start. There are symbols of “fresh starts” all around. Setting goals for the year, renewing commitments to exercise, getting enough sleep, eating better and taking those vitamins—these are all things that[…]

In 2014, it was my honor to accept an appointment to the Internal Revenue Service’s Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (the ACT). ACT members are appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury and advise the IRS on issues impacting tax exempt organizations and government entities. The ACT includes external stakeholders and representatives who deal with employee retirement plans; tax-exempt organizations; tax-exempt bonds; federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments. My[…]

The following post was written by Issela Sono, Nonprofit Management and Governance Intern at the Standards for Excellence Institute®. Issela has volunteered in various nonprofit organizations in the Maryland and Washington, DC area while pursuing her undergraduate studies in Global Business and Public Policy. Issela is certified in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and is currently pursuing a M.B.A., with a concentration in Public Management, at Hood College. News coverage about fraud in[…]