Melwood Earns Seal of Excellence from Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations

UPPER MARLBORO, MD (March 1, 2013) – Melwood, Maryland’s second largest agency serving individuals with disabilities, was awarded the Seal of Excellence from the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (MANO) for successfully completing MANO’s Standards for Excellence certification program. Melwood passed the rigorous ethics and accountability standards review process after opening itself up to scrutiny by a “jury of its peers.” The peer review team examined Melwood for compliance with the Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector in areas including mission and program , governing body, conflict of interest, human resources, financial and legal, openness, fundraising, public affairs and public policy.

The Standards for Excellence certification process evaluates fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility and accountability, all of which are inherently important in the nonprofit world. Melwood’s programs and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were subjected to in-depth examination prior to receiving the Seal of Excellence.

“Submitting to the scrutiny required for certification under the Standards for Excellence was a worthwhile process for Melwood. The Seal of Excellence provides our donors with the reassurance that our organization has taken every step possible to ensure that we are serving the community and operating at the highest levels of ethics and accountability,” said Melwood Team Leader Dana Stebbins. “Melwood’s work on behalf of individuals with disabilities exemplifies both our dedication to our mission and to meeting the highest standards of ethical practice.”

About Melwood Melwood is a dynamic 501(c)(3) organization that creates jobs and opportunities to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Now celebrating its 50th year, Melwood supports more than 2,400 people with disabilities in the greater Washington, DC area through career training, job placement, individual support, and recreation according to their individual preferences. Melwood employs more than 1,200 people with disabilities at approximately 70 contract sites through partnerships with community employers and through the AbilityOne Program, which pairs federal agencies with approved organizations to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities. Melwood employees with disabilities, otherwise eligible to receive government benefits, earned $13 million and paid $2.7 million in taxes. For more information, visit Melwood on Facebook or www.melwood.org.

About Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Standards for Excellence A team of volunteers from the state of Maryland’s nonprofit community developed the first effort of its kind in the nation, the Standards for Excellence program. For more information about the program or for a free copy of the standards, please visit www.marylandnonprofits.org