Standards for Excellence:
An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector
OANO is committed to bolstering public confidence in and support for the nonprofit sector through the Standards for Excellence (the Standards) which promote ethical practices and accountability in nonprofit organizations across the state.
Adopted by OANO in 2001, the Standards are based on fundamental values—such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability. They identify 6 major areas of nonprofit governance and management which include specific benchmarks and measures that provide a structured approach to building capacity, accountability, and sustainability in your organization.
The Standards for Excellence® program is a structured approach for nonprofits to use to build capacity, accountability, and sustainability in their organizations.
The foundation of the Standards for Excellence program is the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.
This Code offers a list of nonprofit best practices, divided into these categories:
– Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation
– Leadership: Board, Staff, and Volunteers
– Legal Compliance and Ethics
– Finance and Operations
– Resource Development
– Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy
OANO is committed to the Standards and all OANO members are requested to pledge their commitment to the guiding principles. Members who wish to take their commitment beyond the pledge level can also apply for Standards accreditation. The nonprofit voluntarily agrees to undergo an in-depth application and anonymous peer review process to confirm adherence to the guiding principles. Attaining the Standards accreditation enables an organization to display the Seal of Excellence on all of its materials. OANO offers high-level training workshops for nonprofits interested in achieving accreditation.
The application process can be found here.