Standards for Excellence® 6.0

The Standards for Excellence Institute® operates as a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering self-regulation and promoting ethical practices within the nonprofit sector across the United States. Established in 1998 by Maryland Nonprofits, the Standards for Excellence® program has evolved into a national framework designed to assist nonprofit organizations in upholding high standards of ethics and accountability in governance, management, and operations.

This initiative has garnered formal adoption from various state, regional, and national affiliate organizations. It is bolstered by a dedicated team of Licensed Consultants and over 100 volunteers who possess significant expertise in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its launch, the program has successfully accredited more than 200 nonprofit organizations that have undergone a stringent application and review process to affirm their commitment to the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

The significance of the Standards for Excellence code was highlighted when BoardSource recognized it as “one of the most important milestones in the field of nonprofit governance in the last 20 years” back in 2008. Furthermore, this initiative has been acknowledged as best practice at various hearings and roundtables convened by the US Senate Committee on Finance as well as by the American Society of Association Executives.