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for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado
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The Colorado Nonprofit Association has developed Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado, a guidebook detailing nine principles and 120 practices to help Colorado nonprofits assess and strengthen their work. The guide, supported by Colorado’s Secretary of State and Attorney General, was created with the assistance of dozens of nonprofit leaders and consultants throughout Colorado. Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado is based on the fundamental values of quality, responsibility and accountability, and include 25 key legal requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations, with citations to specific state and federal laws. |
Click here for a list of upcoming Principles & Practices training sessions.
The nine principles include –
- Governance
View/Download a sample board matrix to help chart the composition of your board (PDF). - Planning
- Transparency and Accountability
- Fundraising
- Financial Management
- Human Resources
- Evaluation
- Civic Engagement and Public Policy
- Strategic Alliances
In their Foreword on the inside cover of Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman note, “These Principles and Practices will serve as a valuable tool for nonprofits of all sizes as they work to strengthen and demonstrate transparency and accountability. Such standards can only enhance the public’s trust in the Colorado nonprofit community.”
Karen Leaffer, Attorney for Faegre & Benson LLP and Managing Editor of the Guide for Colorado Nonprofit Organizations, says, “With all the reports of nonprofit abuses that have surfaced in recent years, it's vital that the Colorado nonprofit sector has a leader like the Colorado Nonprofit Association that will help nonprofits self-regulate, before there is loss of public confidence, and before the regulators go too far.”
We encourage you to review this document and share it broadly with organizations that might benefit. Most nonprofit organizations will not be able to fully adhere to all of these Principles immediately, nor will every Practice be reflected in their current operations. The Principles and Practices are intended as a basis for each organization (board, staff and other constituents) to make a conscious determination of what will best move them forward and ensure that their programs and services are of high quality.
View the publication, Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado (PDF).
View the letter from our Secretary of State and Attorney General endorsing the program and the guidebook (PDF).
Email to request a bound copy. (Please include mailing address in your email).
Our heartfelt thanks to these outstanding corporate citizens for their sponsorship of the Principles & Practices program –
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Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC (EKS&H) is a Denverbased accounting and consulting firm providing services to clients in the Rocky Mountain Region. The firm consists of 39 principals and a professional staff of approximately 335. EKS&H specializes in auditing and accounting, tax and consulting services for nonprofit organizations. We understand their special needs and have the expertise to consult in all areas, including organizational development, governance, strategic planning, process improvements, cash flow management, accounting, budgetary and information systems, internal controls, information technology needs, development of alternative revenue sources, and financial reporting systems. Please contact Ann Hinkins or Ryan Sells at (303) 740-9400. www.eksh.com |
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Holme Roberts & Owen LLP is one of Colorado’s oldest and most respected law firms. Our Nonprofit Team is dedicated to delivering the service and legal expertise our clients need for all aspects of their business – those issues specific to nonprofits, as well as general business issues such as transactional, employment, intellectual property, real estate, finance, and constitutional law, litigation and more. We take pride in our ability to help nonprofits of every kind assess their legal needs, draw upon the expertise of the entire firm, and provide legal services customized to the unique concerns of nonprofit organizations. (303) 861-7000 – www.hro.com |
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WaMu is one of the nation’s leading consumer and small business banks, operating nearly 2,700 banking stores throughout the nation. At WaMu, we’re committed to making the places we do business better places to live, learn and work. What matters to us are vibrant communities, successful schools and financial savvy. To learn more, please visit our web site at www.wamu.com. |