The answer is by adopting standards representing international consensus on good management. You'll be glad to know that one group has translated good practices into a set of standard requirements for a quality management system. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from approximately 100 countries. But the standards are being applied increasingly to the service sector, the fastest growing sector of our economy. Your nonprofit is a service organization that may offer advocacy services, produce publications and sponsor training, educational courses, conferences and special events.
Compliance equals being up to standard.
Here are the steps you need to take to implement the ISO standards in your organization. Develop a Plan. Nonprofits generally work with a consultant familiar with their field to develop a plan to bring current practices up to ISO standards. The consultant helps bridge the gap between the standards' general wording and the actual implementation suited to a particular organization based on the services it provides. A consultant's experience in a particular field is important, because ISO standards must be interpreted.