“The PANO Standards for Excellent Program provides an outstanding venue to benchmark our nonprofit's administrative performance. The Standards are clearly the answer to the present uneasiness the public has towards charitable giving stemming from post - September 11th charity difficulties." The Clinic sessions provided an excellent method for nonprofits to share solutions to common nonprofit organization challenges. Learning from others is always a more efficient way to solve problems. The PANO Standards of Excellent Program is like an "Annual Medical Physical Check-up" for nonprofit organizations. The standards provide a review of all areas of operations which ensures complete health of your organization." Kevin Bagatta, President/CEO Real Alternatives
“I have learned that our organization is doing the right things but we do not have procedures documented which sometimes leads to inefficiencies when we have to “re-invent the wheel” each time. Now we know what needs to be documented and how to document it so that we are covered legally, ethically, crossing our “i’s” and dotting out “t’s.” We have a much better understanding of the direction in which we need to proceed.” Dawn Cook, Office Manager DELTA Communities
“As a new nonprofit manager, The Standards for Excellence clinic is the single most effective tool I have found to ensure my agency is conducting businesses in an efficient and ethical manner. I think it should be mandatory for every nonprofit in Pennsylvania to take part in this program.” Leah Spangler, Executive Director The Learning Lamp
“Pursuit of the Standards for Excellence certification provides the stimulus needed to do the thorough review of all the important policies and practices that a well run organization needs to have in place. It also demands that you review and revise your policies to current best practice standards, and that you add the policies that you thought you might have needed but were not sure how to develop. It is not a casual process; it is a detailed and exhaustive process. Yet in the end it promises not only the reward of being to able to claim certification, but the greater reward of knowing that your organization is very well organized and poised to deliver top quality non-profit services.” Bill Sheeler, Business Manager The Hispanic Center of Reading and Berks County
“Based on our experience to date, the Standards for Excellence Program, as it is designed, requires total organizational focus on detailed specifics of operations, policies, practices and relationships. The process draws board and staff together in assuring knowledge and implementation of the standards. Going through the entire certification program will provide evidence of a well-managed organization. The training and resources materials give clear support and guidance to any nonprofit organization interested in demonstrating responsible and accountable management practices. The program lays out the framework and goes much further in the training and technical assistance provided. In addition, a by product of the training format is that agencies get to learn from each other through the peer to peer exchange portion of the sessions.” Pat Giles: Vice President, Community Impact United Way of Berks County
“Corporate credibility is something that merits a strong effort. Words do very little to express my intense gratitude for PANO! Since I have been a part of the PANO Standards for Excellence Clinics, the ROI corporate culture has been more involved in self-assessment and continuous improvement. I have been with ROI for 22 years and we have many great systems and policies in place. However prior to the PANO’s Standards for Excellence program, I was frustrated because there was “no keeper” of all our systems. Since PANO’s Standards for Excellence program, from the Board down and customer level up, all our systems and policies are being either updated, revised or organized.” Kay Washington, Executive Director Rural Opportunities, Inc.
“I endorse and wholeheartedly encourage participation in this program. Achieving (national/statewide) standards will help raise the credibility of institutions and show commitment to quality service delivery for donors and program recipients.” Charles Barber, Executive Director, The Luzerne Foundation
“We live in an era that demands performance, accountability, and outcomes from nonprofits. Funders are assessing nonprofits' organizational effectiveness, the government is increasing its scrutiny and nonprofits themselves are raising the bar in regard to their management. What's needed? A way of demonstrate performance. The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations is providing a tool. The Standards for Excellence program is nationally recognized as a leading assessment instrument and certification process. The more that it is used, the more that individual organizations and the sector as a whole will benefit.” Judie Donaldson, Executive Director Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania
"The Standards for Excellence Program in our state will permit non-profit organizations to fulfill their missions and to mentor their communities by modeling operational procedures that will generate an increased level of assured reliance upon the integrity and truthfulness of the organization" R. Bruce Bickel, Ph.D., Private Foundation Management Services PNC Advisors
"The Standards for Excellence Program enables non-profit organizations to strengthen their operations, increase their credibility and place themselves in a position of distinction relative to their non-profit peers. Funders have their comfort level raised knowing that these groups are among the best in their ethical and accountability approach to their mission. It’s a win-win situation.” Louis J. Beccaria, Ph.D., President and CEO Phoenixville Community Health Foundation
“This search for excellence gave a new ownership to our board members who had to engage their talents and time in a different way. There was brainstorming, experience rendering, research, discussion about the minute to the mighty of issues… There was a new realization about the business posture that this nonprofit has had to maintain. Families got involved in more evaluation feedback. There were always verbal testimonies of how we operated but getting people to commit to paper their perspectives provided new insights for program changes and expansions.” Sharon Harry, Executive Director, Wyoming Valley Children’s Association
For more information on the Standards for Excellence Program call Tish Mogan at 717-236-8584 or email her.
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