Support the Standards

Only organizations that demonstrate their compliance with the Louisiana Standards for Excellence are given permission to use and display the Seal of Excellence.

The Seal of Excellence is a symbol for trust, excellence in nonprofit management, openness and disclosure in nonprofits, as well as excellence in leadership.
Organizations that display the Seal:

• not only obey the law, but go beyond the minimum requirements set forth by governmental regulation
• are guided by a well-defined mission, have evaluation systems in place to measure the effectiveness of their programs and adhere to sound financial management policies
• are led by volunteer boards of directors that accept responsibility to oversee the organization's mission, policies, programs and human and financial resources
• have information available to the public
• provide truthful and responsible stewardship of all donations
• provide a voice for their constituents.

The Standards are a valuable tool for measuring nonprofit acheivement. LANO supports the use of the Standards as a benchmark at all levels of nonprofit organizational management.

• Board members should encourage their nonprofits to operate in compliance with the Standards, and to seek certification.
• Donors should ask nonprofits if they are Standards-Certified.
• Foundations should consider weighing Standards Certification in their granting process. 
• Nonprofit leaders, staffers and volunteers should familiarize themselves with the Standards and strive to meet their operational benchmarks.