The Standards for Excellence Institute is very pleased to announce that organizations who have completed the rigorous accreditation and recognition programs will be identified for their achievement on GuideStar©, www.guidestar.org.Beginning August 2014, GuideStar USA, the leading source of nonprofit information, will highlight Standards for Excellence accredited and recognized nonprofits by displaying a trademarked logo that refers to their level of accomplishment. The logos will appear in the[…]

We’re pleased to bring you this guest blog post from Maribel Torres-Pinero, CPA, CEO & Director of Client Accounting Services at Lumix CPAs and Advisors.  Maribel is a Standards for Excellence Peer Reviewer.  It is an honor being asked to be treasurer of the Board of a not-for-profit organization.  What seems like a time-consuming task is truly an opportunity to make a fiscal difference for the organization you are invested in.  As a CPA with an understanding of nonprofit experience, I have been[…]

Standards for Excellence Institute Accreditation Manager, Melissa Sines, has been selected to present at this year's BoardSource Leadership Forum.BoardSource's website states that "Speakers at the BoardSource Leadership Forum have always been among the most influential and knowledgeable in the nonprofit sector. They are inspiring leaders who are catalyzing change; researchers and consultants who are on the front-line of understanding effective governance and its influence on mission impact; and[…]

Maryland's The Daily Record has announced its 2014 Maryland’s Most Admired CEOs, a group of 30 top leaders in for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations statewide.William McLennan, Executive Director of Paul's Place, and Stephen H. Morgan, Executive Director of The Arc Baltimore, are among the honorees. Paul's Place earned their Standards for Excellence accreditation in 2004, and The Arc Baltimore earned their accreditation in 2005 through a partnership with The Arc of the United[…]

We are pleased to bring you this Sealholder Profile, written by Standards for Excellence intern Tammy McCubbin. Tammy is presently working towards a Master of Science degree in Human Services Administration from University of Baltimore, Coppin State University.Class Acts Arts is a nonprofit arts-outreach organization that brings interactive performances, workshops and residencies to local communities. Their programs represent a broad range of artistic disciplines and cultural traditions. Class[…]

Volunteering as a Standards for Excellence Peer Reviewer is a truly special type of volunteer experience. Unlike more traditional volunteer roles, Peer Reviewers are trained individuals responsible for evaluating an organization's application for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. Using a peer review process ensures that individuals with diverse opinions and expertise in the nonprofit sector review application packages and[…]

The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate several organizations who recently earned or renewed their accreditation under Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. The Arc Howard County, Ellicott City, MD Ardmore Enterprises, Bowie, MD Hospice of the Chesapeake, Pasadena, MD The Pro Bono Counseling Project, Baltimore, MD Texas Pregnancy Care Network, Austin, TX[…]

Megan Shreve, Executive Director of South Central Community Action Programs, Inc. (SCCAP) recently discussed her organization's experience with the Standards for Excellence accreditation program on GettysburgTimes.com."What is really, really valuable is the work, insight and improvement that took place through the process!"Read how SCCAP is "Building a Bright Future" here.[…]

We are pleased to bring you this article from Susan Detwiler, Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.  This topic, an important issue for all nonprofits helps us to consider the importance of benchmarks in the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector  on board diversity which states “The board should establish a rigorous board development strategy for recruiting and selecting new members and ensuring that the board has an appropriate mix of[…]

We’re pleased to bring you this guest blog post from Maribel Torres-Pinero, CPA, CEO & Director of Client Accounting Services at Lumix CPAs and Advisors.  Maribel is a Standards for Excellence Peer Reviewer.  You start with the mission – Point A.  This is your intent.  You want to achieve the objectives – Point B which is stated in your mission.  This is your goal.  You then create your annual report, which is a way of showcasing your accomplishments.  The fundamental message of this report is[…]