What makes the Standards for Excellence Institute unique is that we don’t just talk about accountability. We provide nonprofits with a proven approach to achieving the highest standards in governance and management, while at the same time staying focused on the people and communities they serve.
The Standards for Excellence Institute is:
Learn more about the Institute.
Learn more about the Institute Leadership.
Foundations, grantmakers, and individual donors have many nonprofits vying for their support. Accreditation or recognition by the Standards for Excellence Institute takes the guesswork out of giving. Organizations accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute have fulfilled their legal and ethical fiduciary obligations and are effective at achieving their missions. Accreditation assures their funders and those who support their missions that they are well-managed and responsibly governed.
Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants are independent consultants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to work with nonprofit organizations across the country that are interested in implementing, and becoming accredited by, the Standards for Excellence program.
The Standards for Excellence Institute invites national, state, and local level nonprofit organizations and associations to apply to become Replication Partners and offer the Standards program to their communities. Replication Partners are licensed to use all Standards program materials to a specific group of nonprofits. Replication provides a unique opportunity for organizations to launch a fully developed, comprehensive nonprofit capacity-building program.
Nonprofits in certain geographic areas or working in certain professional areas are able to get extra support from one of the current Replication Partners. These partners help nonprofits in many ways, including implementing the Standards and/or working towards accreditation or recognition. Replication Partners are licensed to use all Standards program materials, including the Standards for Excellence code, educational resource packets, training curricula, and accreditation program materials.
Nonprofits can check out the current list of Partners to see if they are eligible for this valuable support.
Operating nonprofits, for-profit organizations and individuals can gain access to our expert resources and staff by becoming members of the Standards for Excellence Institute.
The Standards for Excellence Institute is committed to providing valuable professional development opportunities to individuals who work in or with the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit professionals can volunteer to serve as a volunteer with our accreditation program.
The Standards for Excellence Institute is a project of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, a 501 (c)(3) organization – donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ current financial statement is available upon request by calling their office at 410-727-6367. Documents submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 for the cost of copying and mailing. The entire amount of your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations verifies that you did not receive anything of value in exchange for your donation.
We accept donations from residents and organizations in Maryland, Washington DC, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Vermont & Wyoming. If you would like to inquire about making a gift from other states, please contact Amy Coates Madsen at 443-438-2314.