Standards of Excellence
Good Operating Practices for Voluntary Health Agencies
The National Health Council has adopted a set
of good operating practices to ensure that its voluntary health
agency (VHA) members maintain the highest standards of organizational
effectiveness and public stewardship. The standards cover
the areas of governance, personnel policies, programs, fundraising,
finance, accounting and reporting, and evaluation. These standards
are closely aligned with, but more extensive than, the Standards
for Charitable Accountability adopted by the Better Business
Bureau's Wise
Giving Alliance (WGA).
Voluntary health agency members must meet all
of the standards to be in compliance. Compliance is determined
through evaluation of responses to a survey conducted every
three years and analysis of accompanying supporting documents,
such as bylaws, audited financial statements and annual reports.
The CEO and a senior board officer are required to certify
that the information contained in the survey and supporting
documents is accurate.
VHA members found not to be in compliance with
a given standard or standards are given a period of time (usually
one year), as determined by the Council's Board of Directors,
to come into compliance. Similarly, a period of one year or
more is allowed for members to come into compliance with newly
adopted or revised standards. In these cases, VHAs are considered
to be members in good standing as they work toward compliance
with the standards. Those who cannot or will not achieve compliance
are removed from membership in the Council.
The Council demands the highest standards of
public accountability from its VHA members to assure the public
that these organizations are worthy of support.
For further details about the standards:
or contact:
info@nhcouncil.org
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