Standards for Excellence®

The Standards for Excellence offers tools and resources to empower Community Benefit Organizations (nonprofits) to meet the highest standards of nonprofit governance, management and operations.

The program includes an ethics and accountability code consisting of 55 standards (outlining best practices and legal components of nonprofit operations), educational resources, training, and two structured implementation programs: the Tiered Approach and a voluntary certification program.

How can I implement the Standards for Excellence?
Implementing the Standards for Excellence can be self-guided, structured or a combination. The advantage of a structured option is that organizations can follow a proven, step-by-step process with staff or peer review, technical support and guidance built into the approach.

Certified Agencies List

As Standards for Excellence® certified organizations, community benefit organizations listed below are committed to advancing ethics and accountability of operations, as well as that of the nonprofit sector, and have opened themselves to an extensive review process that includes a jury of experienced peers. These organizations have built additional improvements into already well-run organizations throughout the certification process. To date, 57 nonprofit organizations have achieved the Seal of Excellence in PA and over 200 nationally!

accessAbilities, Inc., Greensburg

The Arc of Chester County, West Chester

Berks Connections/Pretrial Services, Reading

BerksTALKLINE, Reading

CARE for Children, Bradford
Carlisle Area Health & Wellness Foundation

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA, Inc.

Catholic Leadership Institute, Wayne
Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. , Camp Hill

Centro Hispano Daniel Torres Inc., Reading

The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, Greensburg

Dickinson Mental Health Center, Ridgway

Domestic Violence Center of Chester County

Easter Seals of Eastern PA, Allentown

Elk County Community Foundation, St. Marys

Elk County Council on the Arts, St. Marys

Employment Opportunity & Training Center of NEPA, Scranton

For Pete´s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation (formerly Crossing the Finish Line), Blue Bell

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Harrisburg

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, Pittsburgh

Interfaith Housing Alliance of Frederick Maryland, with operations in South Central PA.

Jewish Family Service of Greater Wilkes-Barre

Keystone Opportunity Center, Souderton

The Learning Lamp, Johnstown

Lifeline of Berks County, Inc , West Reading

Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, Inc., Reading

Maternal Child and Health Consortium of Chester County, West Chester

New Hope Ministries, Dillsburg

Pathstone, PA Division

Pearl S. Buck International, Perkasie

Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, Harrisburg

Phoenixville Community Health Foundation

Phoenixville Healthcare Access Foundation

Real Alternatives, Harrisburg

Soroptimist International of the Americas, Philadelphia

Surrey Services for Seniors, Berwyn

Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Reading

Tri-City Life Center Inc., Lower Burrell

United Methodist Home for Children, Inc., Mechanicsburg

United Way of Berks County, Reading

United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County, Carlisle

United Way of Westmoreland County, Greensburg

Ursuline Senior Services, Inc., Pittsburgh

Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports Inc., Greensburg

Westmoreland Community Action, Greensburg

Westmoreland Community Food Bank, Inc.

The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Media

Women´s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh

Wyoming Valley Children´s Association, Wilkes-Barre

YWCA Carlisle

YWCA Greater Harrisburg

YWCA York