Joshua M. Freeman Foundation renews Seal of Excellence
The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation announced the renewal of its Standards for Excellence Institute’s Seal of Excellence.
The foundation is a fundraising arts nonprofit with programs that include Freeman Arts Pavilion, an outdoor performances venue in Selbyville, and its arts access initiative, which provides students and underserved families of Delmarva with year-round, high-quality arts experiences at no cost. It was first awarded the Standards for Excellence Institute’s Seal of Excellence in 2019 after the organization 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 and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were subjected to in-depth examination prior to earning accreditation.
The Standards for Excellence Institute requires organizations to renew after the initial three years to ensure they are maintaining the policies, good governance and compliance, and that their programs continue to reflect their mission. This accreditation is good for five years, at which time Freeman Arts will have to renew again.
“Achieving our renewed accreditation for Standards for Excellence is a measure of our commitment to the people and communities we serve,” said Patti Grimes, executive director. “As a public charity, we want to assure our stakeholders that we remain committed to delivering on our mission and serving our community, while achieving and implementing the highest standards in governance, management and operating systems.”
