STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE:
An Ethics and Accountability Code

for the Nonprofit Sector

©1998-2004 Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations

Spanish Version of the Standards (Los Estándares de Excelencia)

PREAMBLE

Maryland's nonprofit sector is committed to public service. Hard at work in communities across the state, nonprofit organizations are serving and meeting the needs of our citizens and strengthening our communities.

The success of Maryland's nonprofit organizations depends upon public confidence and broad public support. Maryland's nonprofits are supported by individuals, corporations and foundations through charitable contributions and volunteer effort; by government through contracts and grants; by consumers through purchases and fees; and by the general public through state and federal tax laws.

The Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits) is committed to bolstering public confidence in and support for the nonprofit sector. Therefore, Maryland Nonprofits has developed these Standards for Excellence (Standards) to promote ethical practices and accountability in nonprofit organizations across the state.

Nonprofit organizations must comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws. These Standards build on that foundation, and go a step further. Based on fundamental values - such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, compassion, responsibility, and accountability - these Standards describe how nonprofits should act to be ethical and be accountable in their program operations, governance, human resources, financial management and fundraising. Eight (8) Guiding Principles are provided, along with fifty-five (55) Standards - more detailed performance benchmarks that will enable nonprofits to strengthen their operations.

Maryland Nonprofits is committed to these Standards and all Maryland Nonprofits' members are required to pledge their commitment to the Guiding Principles. Members are supported in their efforts to implement the Standards through training and technical assistance provided by Maryland Nonprofits, as well as through a voluntary self-regulatory program by which organizations are evaluated based on their compliance with the performance indicators. In addition, Maryland Nonprofits invites non-member nonprofits to subscribe to these Standards.

The Standards for Excellence are intended to describe how the most well managed and responsibly governed organizations should, and do operate. They provide benchmarks to determine how well an organization is fulfilling its obligations to those who benefit from its programs, to contributors, and to the public.