Instructions
Welcome! 

You may use this assessment to measure your organization's current adherence to the benchmarks in the Standards for Excellence Code. Consider about each standard related to your own organization and check whether or not your organization exhibits each individual benchmark at this time.

When you complete your assessment, email Kate at khull@standardsforexellence.org for your results.

The foundation of the Standards for Excellence program is the published Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. It identifies 6 major areas of nonprofit governance and management which contain 27 different topic areas. Each topic area includes specific benchmarks and measures that provide a structured approach to building capacity, accountability, and sustainability in your organization.

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* 1. Organization Information

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* 2. Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation

Nonprofits are founded for the public good and operate to accomplish a stated purpose through specific program activities. A nonprofit should have a well-defined mission, and its programs should effectively and efficiently work toward achieving that mission. Nonprofits have an obligation; to ensure program effectiveness and to devote the resources of the organization to achieving its stated purpose.

Mission and Impact

  Yes No Partially N/A
(1) A nonprofit should have a mission statement that is a clear and formal statement of the organization’s purpose as defined and approved by the board of directors. The organization's activities should be consistent with its stated purpose.
(2) A nonprofit should be able to articulate how its mission is supported by a statement of the organization’s vision and strategic goals.

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* 3. Organizational Evaluation

  Yes No Partially N/A
(1) A nonprofit should engage in organizational evaluation to ensure that all financial resources and human capital are being used toward fulfilling its mission.

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* 4. Program Evaluation

  Yes No Partially N/A
(1) A nonprofit should have defined, cost-effective procedures for evaluating, both qualitatively and quantitatively, its programs and projects in relation to its mission. These procedures should address programmatic efficiency and effectiveness, out
(2) Evaluations should be candid, and should be used by leadership to strengthen the organization's effectiveness, and when necessary, be used to make programmatic changes.

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* 5. Strategic Partnerships

  Yes No Partially N/A
(1) Nonprofits engaging in strategic partnerships and formal alliances with other organizations should do so within the context of a board-approved policy outlining the goals and parameters of such partnerships. Depending on the type of strategic partnership, nonprofits should ensure that proper due diligence has been followed and that agreements, memoranda of understanding, or similar documentation have been thoughtfully reviewed and considered.

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* 6. Comments

Describe areas where you may have more work to do or where the organization exhibits particularly good work.

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