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Allegheny groups receive state awards for demonstrating high standard of excellence

The Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and Ursuline Senior Services have joined an elite group of nonprofits in Pennsylvania that have demonstrated high standards of excellence.

The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, a Harrisburg-based group, has given its Standards for Excellence Seal to the two local groups. Only 50 nonprofits among more than 60,000 in the state have achieved this distinction.

"First of all, it's an intensive amount of work for the organization," said Tish Mogan, PANO's Standards for Excellence officer. "They have to show they are in compliance with 55 standards in eight areas of nonprofit operations."

The areas are mission and program, governing board, conflict of interest, human resources, finance and legal, fundraising, openness and public policy.

"One of the reasons we as an organization decided to go after it is because in this day and age we have to communicate to anybody looking at us that we're working as hard to be the best we can be," said Tony Turo, executive director of Ursuline Senior Services in Shadyside.

He and Barbara Bourdon, operations director for the Women's Center, said they hope this seal of excellence helps their groups raise money from donors.

Bourdon said the process ensures that board members are actively involved in their organizations by setting standards for attendance, meetings and quorums.

"You want to make sure you just don't have board members on the side of the letterhead," she said.

In addition to the Women's Center and Ursuline, three other groups from Allegheny County have won the seal: the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.

Eight nonprofits in Westmoreland County have received the seal: accessAbilities, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, Operation Outward Reach, the Tri-City Life Center, United Way of Westmoreland County, Westmoreland Casemanagement and Support Services Inc., and Westmoreland Community Action.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_634938.html