     |
|||
       |
|||
            |
Subscribe to receive the Standards for Excellence Institute® bi-monthly Newsletter>> Standards for Excellence Institute® Newsletter Table of Contents
Feature: Check Out The Standards for Excellence® 52 Tips in 52 Weeks Each week this year, we are providing easy tips to help nonprofits transform their governance and operations based on the best practices in nonprofit management and governance described in the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. It is sure to be the inspiration you need to achieve excellence in all areas of your governance and operations. To sign up to receive a free tip each week, click here>> The Standards for Excellence Institute® is committed to providing you with the most current and up-to-date resources to help you do your job. As you probably know, the IRS has issued its revisions to the Form 990 and instructions. If you are like many nonprofit executives, you are or will soon be facing a lengthy list of new questions outlined in the IRS’s new Form 990. You are probably having discussions with your staff and accountants right now regarding your organization’s policies and practices, particularly in areas like governance, finance and fundraising. With the Form 990 revisions, many of our signature Standards for Excellence® educational resource packages have been updated in order to place special emphasis on topics addressed and policies requested in the new Form 990. In fact, over half of our educational resource packets have been revised, including the following titles:
In addition, because we understand that many nonprofits are interested in having “one-stop” access to the most-requested policies addressed in the new Form 990, we have developed a NEW Standards for Excellence® educational resource packet called IRS Form 990 Governance and Management Policy Compendium. This packet includes sample and model policies and forms such as: conflicts of interest; expense reimbursement, compensation, and a questionnaire on family and business relationships and interested person independence, to name a few. As always, Standards for Excellence® educational resource packages are available free of charge to members of the Standards for Excellence Institute. For your convenience, you can download these resources from the members-only portion of the Standards for Excellence Institute website, any time, day or night. You can also contact us to receive a copy via mail or email—at info@standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org or 410.727.1726 ext 13. Spotlight on Certified Nonprofit, Worcester County GOLD
Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity) was awarded the Seal of Excellence through the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence® voluntary certification program. Worcester GOLD voluntarily opened itself to scrutiny by a “jury of their peers”. The peer reviewer team examined the organization for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector®. Worcester GOLD is a small nonprofit in Snow Hill, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore established in 1997 and is the only county-wide charity in Worcester County providing a wide array of assistance to individuals in need. The organization provides services such as emergency financial aid, baby and adult pantries, summer camps, and also has special funds to help children in foster care, vulnerable adults, and students facing crisis. Worcester GOLD operates in a creative alternative model, with several funding sources and partnerships across the county. The organization has two part-time staff members and a very active and supportive board of directors. When Worcester GOLD initially learned about the standards program and took the introductory course, their initial thought was that the program was too much for them. Then, after participating in the Standards for Excellence® training series, it took only about six months once they got started, to pull together their application and make modifications. Executive Director, Debbie Cole, is getting ready to retire in the not too distant future. She and the board really saw this process as a way to ensure a strong, sustainable organization prepared for the impending executive transition. They view the Standards for Excellence® certification as a graduation of sorts, an important phase in the organization’s "growing up" and being more ready than ever to serve those in need in Worcester County. For more information about the Standards for Excellence certification program and to request and application package to earn the Seal of Excellence, please visit www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org and click on Earn the Seal of Excellence or call the Standards for Excellence Institute at 410.727.1726 ext.37. On the Road 4/1/09, New Orleans, LA - Standards for Excellence Institute® Program Director Amy Coates Madsen presented a session entitled, Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure as a Fundraising Strategy at the Association of Fundraising Professional International Conference in New Orleans. 3/6/09, Colorado Springs, CO - Standards for Excellence Institute® Program Director Amy Coates Madsen represented the Standards for Excellence Institute® at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence's Nonprofit Day to meet and discuss Standards for Excellence® accreditation with attendees. If you would like more information on how you can engage the Standards for Excellence Institute® to facilitate Standards for Excellence® educational programming in your area, contact Justin Pollock at jpollock@standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org or 301.565.0505 ext. 30. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standards for Excellence® Certification Online Webinars Learn what it takes to successfully complete the Standards for Excellence® voluntary certification program. This free, online, presentation will cover the benefits of becoming certified; identify tips for charting your plan of action; present ideas on how to assemble your application; provide information on the application-review process; and offer the opportunity to ask specific questions about the certification process. Find out about the free resources available to members that can assist you with implementing the Standards®. Register for an upcoming webinar>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Membership is open to operating nonprofits, grantmakers, associate members, and students. Joining is easy. You can join online or via mail. For information on how to join the Standards for Excellence Institute®, click here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will 2009 Be the Year that Your Organization Earns the Seal of Excellence®? The Standards for Excellence: An Ethic and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector® continues to be a tool of choice for many nonprofits when strengthening the quality and integrity of management in their organizations. Join more than 200 other organizations that currently hold the Seal of Excellence and demonstrate that your organization is responsibly governed and well-managed. Is your organization ready for the next step? Mark your calendars for these application deadlines: June 26, 2009 October 30, 2009
|
a | |
