Testimonials from Nonprofit

Don't just take it from us. Here's what nonprofit leaders say:

“The [Baldrige Criteria] categories identify key areas of organizational focus and call for an assessment of your own identified processes. We’ve found it has been useful to have a proven methodology for improvement. Focusing on results is two-pronged: using the Criteria, not only can you see your results improve, but you also are focused on the gap areas that are holding back your results.”
—Sue Dunn, President and CEO, Donor Alliance, 2018 Baldrige Award Recipient

“We believe that government can be great. We believe that local government can be great. And we believe that the Baldrige framework is ideally suited to help local government go from here to here [gesturing high].”
—Darin Atteberry, City Manager, City of Fort Collins, 2017 Baldrige Award Recipient

“There are no shortcuts to success with the Baldrige framework. But the process is definitely worth it. We are excited to report that Baldrige has helped us save more lives each year.”
—Dean F. Kappel, President Emeritus, Mid-America Transplant, 2015 Baldrige Award Recipient

"[Elevations Credit Union's] financial results are the byproduct of employees serving our members and doing a great job. My job as CEO is to turn this organization over to the next CEO in better shape than it is today, and through the Baldrige framework, we [will be] able to do that."
—Gerry Agnes, President and CEO, Elevations Credit Union, 2014 Baldrige Award recipient

"In the past few years we have seen a complete transformation of the book publishing industry. Despite this challenging landscape with the rapid-fire addition of new channels and business models, Concordia Publishing House continues to thrive. Our agility and flexibility during these times is due in great part to the guidance of the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria and the invaluable feedback from the examiners."
—Bruce G. Kintz, President and CEO, Concordia Publishing House, 2011 Baldrige Award Recipient  

"People ask, 'Why Baldrige?' My answer is very simple: a Triple A bond rating on Wall Street from all three rating agencies, bringing capital projects in on time and within budget, a 96 percent business satisfaction rating, a 94 percent resident satisfaction rating, an overall quality rating of 95 percent, and an employee satisfaction rating of 97 percent ... that's why we're involved with Baldrige. . . . We ... see a number of cities around the country that are beginning to focus on the Baldrige Criteria and take a holistic approach to performance excellence. . . . It's great for government in America."
—Michael Levinson, City Manager, City of Coral Springs, 2007 Baldrige Award Recipient

"We were looking for a way that would help us have the best business practices of any government agency. That was our goal. We wanted to be the best in that particular area. We looked around and  . . . we had people who said, 'Why don't we look at the Baldrige Award? The advantage of applying for these awards is . . . . to get the feedback from these experts from the outside who look at your organization in great detail and tell you what you do well and what you don't do so well. And we concentrated on the things that we didn't do so well to improve in those various areas."
—Dr. Joseph A. Lannon, Director, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), 2007 Baldrige Award Recipient