Freeman Foundation accredited by Standards for Excellence Institute

The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation announced it has earned the Standards for Excellence Institute’s Seal of Excellence for successfully completing its rigorous accreditation program.

The fundraising arts nonprofit voluntarily opened itself up to analysis by a jury of its peers. The peer review team examined the organization for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, in areas including mission, strategy and evaluation; leadership: board, staff and volunteers; legal compliance and ethics; finance and operations; resource development; and public awareness, engagement and advocacy.

The Standards for Excellence Institute evaluates fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility and accountability, all of which are inherently important in the nonprofit world.

The foundation’s programs – which include the Freeman Stage as well as its arts in education and community access programs – and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were subjected to in-depth examination prior to earning accreditation.

“The trust from our donors and the public is paramount for success and sustainability,” said Patti Grimes, executive director. “Achieving and maintaining the rigors required by the Standards for Excellence Institute provides additional assurances to our donors that integrity, transparency and systems are in place in our organization. We are a stronger organization from the Standards for Excellence process.”

The Standards for Excellence Institute is committed to raising the level of principled and responsible practices within the nonprofit sector. The institute offers a model for organizations to implement in their operating plans so they can gain a deeper understanding of their effectiveness, improve their decision-making and minimize risks. Nonprofits that adhere to the principles and practices of strong nonprofit management and governance can become formally accredited under the Standards for Excellence program.

The program provides a structured approach to improved operations and quality management, delivering years of benchmarking and best practices to organizations’ leadership, and a recognized seal of approval to outside stakeholders, indicating that the organization is performing as promised after comprehensive evaluation by practitioners and industry experts.

For more information, go to www.freemanfoundation.org and www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org.