Home of the Standards for Excellence Institute

Standards for Excellence

The Standards for Excellence Institute is a program of Maryland Nonprofits that serves nonprofit organizations nationwide by promoting ethics and accountability. This initiative provides individual nonprofits with an approach to achieving the highest standards in governance, management, and operations within their organization.

The centerpiece of the Institute’s work is The Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector (the Standards for Excellence code). The Standards for Excellence Code provides key standards and benchmarks for nonprofit organizations to meet in the following areas:

      • Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation,
      • Leadership: Board, Staff, and Volunteers,
      • Legal Compliance and Ethics,
      • Finance and Operations,
      • Resource Development, and
      • Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy.

HOW CAN NONPROFITS USE THE CODE?

A guide to implemeting nonprofit best practices

Check whether your organization has implemented the best practices in the Standards! Our free online self-assessment is a great tool for nonprofits to assess their organization. After completion, nonprofits receive a detailed, actionable report with links to resources. Maryland Nonprofits members have access to detailed, thorough, current educational resources for all the Standards for Excellence areas.

Apply for Recognition or Accreditation

Earning Recognition or Accreditation from the Standards for Excellence Institute sets a nonprofit apart as one that has third-party verification of its commitment to building capacity, accountability, and sustainability.

Going through the Accreditation process helps a nonprofit to:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of its effectiveness,
  • Improve its decision-making,
  • Maximize its board performance,
  • Increase equity and inclusion,
  • Earn public trust,
  • Become a sustainable organization, and
  • Minimize risks.

There are three levels of Recognition and Accreditation:

  • Standards Basics recognition requires strong policies in place for good governance and legal compliance, and calls for a well-defined mission with impactful programs.
  • Standards Basics Enhanced recognition requires all the Basics requirements, plus the nonprofit must be inclusive of the community served, must hold strategic and effective board meetings, and must have programs that are attentive to strategic issues and trends in the community.
  • Accreditation (Seal of Excellence) requires all the Basics and Basics Enhanced requirements, plus the nonprofit must create long-range strategic and sustainability plans, build strong board performance, and outline steps to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also requires meeting all the requirements in the Standards for Excellence code.

Click here to download a detailed guide to the requirements for meeting each level of recognition or accreditation.

Click here for more resources about Accreditation and Recognition.

ACCREDITATION TIERS AND FEES

Tiered Recognition Fees

TIERED RECOGNITION FEES

 

APPLICATION FEES

Application fees for Standards Basics or Standards Basics Enhanced Recognition are paid with submission of your application and cover the application review. Members of Maryland Nonprofits receive a discount on application fees – join today! Nonprofit Development Center (NDC) participants may apply for recognition at no cost – see NDC eligibility and apply online.

ORGANIZATION BUDGET
MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
Less than $250,000 $150 $300
$250,000 – $500,000 $200 $400
$500,000 – $1 million $400 $800
$1 million – $5 million $750 $1,500
$5 million – $10 million $1,250 $2,500
$10 million – $50 million $2,000 $4,000
$50 million and higher $3,500 $7,000

 

 

 

ANNUAL LICENSE FEES

Recognized organizations will pay a licensing fee during each year of the licensing period as follows. Members of Maryland Nonprofits receive a discount on application fees – join today! NDC participants’ license fee will be waived – see NDC eligibility and apply online.

ORGANIZATION BUDGET
MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
Less than $250,000 $50 $100
$250,000 – $500,000 $75 $150
$500,000 – $1 million $100 $200
$1 million – $5 million $150 $300
$5 million – $10 million $250 $500
$10 million – $50 million $375 $750
$50 million and higher $700 $1,400
Accreditation Fees

ACCREDITATION FEES

 

APPLICATION FEES

Application fees for accreditation are paid with submission of your application and cover the application review. Members of Maryland Nonprofits receive a discount on application fees – join today!

ORGANIZATION BUDGET
MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
Less than $250,000 $250 $500
$250,000 – $500,000 $450 $900
$500,000 – $1 million $750 $1,500
$1 million – $5 million $1,000 $2,000
$5 million – $10 million $1,750 $3,500
$10 million – $50 million $3,750 $7,500
$50 million and higher $7,000 $14,000

 

ANNUAL LICENSE FEES

Accredited organizations will pay a licensing fee each year of the licensing period. Organizations will apply for renewal after the initial three years and thereafter every five years.  Members of Maryland Nonprofits receive a discount on license fees – join today!

 

ORGANIZATION BUDGET
MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
Less than $250,000 $100 $200
$250,000 – $500,000 $150 $300
$500,000 – $1 million $200 $400
$1 million – $5 million $300 $600
$5 million – $10 million $650 $1,300
$10 million – $50 million $1,250 $2,500
$50 million and higher $2,000 $4,000

Ready to get started? Start your Accreditation or Recognition application today!

Related Resources

The Impact of Standards Accreditation and Recognition

Standards for Excellence Code