Principles
and
Practices
for Florida
Nonprofit
Excellence
Facts:
Paul Light of New York University and the Brookings Institution describes as the need for
nonprofits to work at excelling at their most important attributes — that is, to become more
“nonprofit-like” as opposed to being more business-like or bureaucratic.
Every nonprofit organization needs a strong foundation of compliance and a broad
organizational awareness of laws and regulations related to fundraising, licensing, financial
accountability, human resources, lobbying, political advocacy and taxation.
Floridians join together throughout the state to form associations and organizations of every
type.
The Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence are of particular interest to 501(c)(3)
organizations.
The information and concepts apply broadly to all types of nonprofit organizations. Because of
the sector’s diversity by size, region and activity area, each organization will be encouraged to
determine whether or not an individual practice is appropriate for its current situation.
Nonprofit organizations are essential to the vitality of communities. They enrich quality of life,
epitomize the highest societal values and strengthen democracy. Volunteers, board members
and employees become involved with a nonprofit because of the organization’s public benefit
mission.
The continued success of Florida’s nonprofit organizations requires broad public support and
confidence. This document publicly testifies the nonprofit sector’s commitment to excellence
— always for the benefit of society.
Thank you to the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits for generously supporting
FANO, Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations in the development of
Florida’s Principals and Practices Policy.
About Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) In 1994, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN)
became the first state association of nonprofits to develop a set of accountability principles and
management practices. This revised edition completely updates those original standards while
remaining true to MCN’s long-standing goal of open access to our comprehensive policies for
strong public accountability. This revised edition of the Principles and Practices for Nonprofit
Excellence was developed by a committee representing the diversity of the nonprofit sector, with
extensive input gathered from statewide community meetings. In revising the original version,
the committee specifically sought to lay out essential characteristics that are distinct expectations
of public engagement and responsiveness, not simply disclosure. The new Role in Society
principle puts in the forefront practices that address what Paul Light of New York University and
the Brookings Institution described as the need for nonprofits to work at excelling at their most
important attributes — that is, to become more “nonprofit-like” as opposed to being more
business-like or bureaucratic.
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The Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations 7480 Fairway Drive, #205, Miami Lakes, Florida, 33014 305. 557. 1764
© 2013
