How to donate to a good nonprofit
I know nothing about the Baltimore Parks and People Foundation except what I just read in its press release and on its Web site. "Since 1984, Parks & People Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life in Baltimore’s neighborhoods, developing innovative solutions for restoration of natural resources and the academic enrichment and motivation of the city’s children."
But I know that Parks & People just qualified for Maryland Nonprofits' Standards for Excellence program, which reduces chances that certified organizations will turn out to be incompetent, negligent, venal or larcenous. Standards for Excellence is a bright signaling device saying, "This nonprofit is likely to use your philanthropic donations and government grants in a productive, efficient manner." Not a bad screen to use when deciding on your year-end donations. Here is a list of qualifying organizations.
Comments
It is generally true that the "Standards of Excellence" are a good way to minimize the chances that the organization is infested with the "incompetent, negligent, venal or larcenous."
But the Standards themselves are onerous and bureaucratic and somewhat redundent with basic non-profit state and federal laws and general corporate principles.
Meeting the Standards will guarantee that the organization has squandered hundreds of board and staff hours coming up with the pointless documentation and "written policies" required by the Standards of Excellence program.
Not to take away anything from Parks and People's achievement (and they are an outstanding organization), but smaller, but quite effective and non-larcenous non-profits will do fine work without meeting the Standards. Donors should look to a record of effectiveness rather than this particular overly-bureaucratic seal of approval.
Posted by: TJH | December 7, 2007 7:23 PM