Baltimore, MD – The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, central Virginia’s go-to nonprofit capacity building hub, announced in May that it is now a Replication Partner of the Standards for Excellence Institute. There are over 1,600 nonprofit organizations in Central Virginia, and the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence (“PNE”) wants to help each one of them remain sustainable and strengthen their community. Standards for Excellence is a national initiative that is designed to promote the highest standards of nonprofit governance, management, and operations. As a Replication Partner, PNE—through its Organizational Solutions program—will bring the full complement of Standards for Excellence educational resources, expertise, and programming to Central Virginia’s nonprofit community. “Nonprofits contribute significantly to the cultural, social and economic landscape. It is imperative that nonprofits of all sizes be effective, efficient, credible and transparent as they strive to meet critical community needs. Standards for Excellence provides the tools and templates that enable nonprofits to get a better and faster handle on their policies and practices while maintaining a focus on meeting their mission,” said Melissa Hough, President & CEO of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence. Local nonprofits of all sizes can benefit from the content-rich training, assessment tools, resource materials, and technical assistance provided by Standards for Excellence Institute. The PNE has launched a summer cohort training opportunity for local nonprofits to become early adopters of Standards for Excellence. Cohort participants will learn about and implement best practices that will enhance their ability to deliver on their missions effectively and efficiently. Topical areas that will be covered in the Standards for Excellence programming include Leadership:  Board, Staff, and Volunteers; Legal Compliance and Ethics; Resource Development; Finance and Operations; Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy; and Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation. Funding for implementing the Standards for Excellence program locally has been generously provided by Altria. Additionally, cohort participants will receive a portion of their programming fees underwritten by Flashpoint Fund, a philanthropic organization focused exclusively on charitable organizations that benefit the greater Richmond area. “We’ve been searching for some time for a program with the comprehensive resources designed to help nonprofits better achieve sustainability. Sustainability goes beyond financial stability. It includes all of the operational aspects required to ensure strong business functionality. We are pleased that we can bring the Standards for Excellence to Central Virginia,” continued Hough. Darcy S. Oman, President & CEO, The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, added, “Building stronger nonprofits means building stronger communities. The Community Foundation is pleased to support the PNE in offering Standards for Excellence as a comprehensive tool and management resource to promote and recognize operational excellence in the nonprofit sector.” PNE will begin to offer full Standards for Excellence programming in September 2014. Nonprofits in Central Virginia who are interested in learning more should go to www.orgsolutions.org or contact Jenay Barbee, Senior Manager, Organizational Solutions, PNE at (804)330-7027 ext.134 or at jbarbee@pnerichmond.org. For more information on the Standards for Excellence Institute, contact Amy Coates Madsen, Director at (410) 727‐1726 ext. 2314or atacmadsen@standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org. About Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence (PNE) The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence is an affiliation of four programs that provide nonprofits in Central Virginia with the tools they need to improve their effectiveness and efficiency for greater impact. The four programs, Nonprofit Learning Point, ConnectVA, HandsOn Greater Richmond, and Organizational Solutions, provide a comprehensive support system so nonprofits can collaborate successfully, employ best practices, and gain access to a wealth of volunteers. By opening the door to such resources as project management expertise, communications tools, and ongoing professional development, the PNE helps nonprofits achieve their mission. The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence was created in 2006 by The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia with the common goal of helping local nonprofit succeed and is now supported by multiple funders. www.pnerichmond.org.