Maryland Nonprofits

What Maryland Nonprofits does

Maryland Nonprofits is a nonprofit membership organization that supports the community-benefit sector through training, consulting, accreditation, advocacy, and capacity-building resources. The organization operates as part of the broader Standards for Excellence Institute ecosystem — affiliated with PANO (Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations), which serves as the Pennsylvania state partner — and offers a portfolio of products and services including the Standards for Excellence accreditation program (which awards the Seal of Excellence), a Consultant Collaborative network, the Ask PANO help desk, training programs and webinars, an annual conference, online self-assessment tools (Basics and Full Self-Assessments), the PANO Navigator digital resource hub, advocacy services including a Policy Action Network, and the 2026 publications "Standards for All" and the "Values to Action Roadmap."

The organization monetizes primarily through membership dues (~31% of 2024 funding), fundraising including donations, sponsorships, and grants (~32%), and program/consulting fees (~24%), supplemented by corporate partner discount programs and conference revenue. Its go-to-market is a direct membership model with regional (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) scope, supported by content marketing via website, email/newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and an annual in-person conference. Underlying technology is lightweight: a WordPress-based website, a Neon CRM-powered member portal (z2systems), and digital self-assessment tools — no proprietary software platforms, APIs, or AI/ML systems are disclosed.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the organization operates with 11–50 employees and is led by Executive Director Anne L. Gingerich (since 2013). It maintains strategic affiliations with the National Council of Nonprofits, the Standards for Excellence Institute, Villanova University, and Colmena Consulting, and functions as a 501(c)(3) entity with no parent company, venture capital, or private equity backing.

Name

Maryland Nonprofits

Legal name

Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations

Website

https://pano.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Support Services

NAICS

Political Organizations (81394), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Nonprofit support services
• Nonprofit accreditation
• Capacity building
• Nonprofit consulting
• Nonprofit membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Maryland Nonprofits is a state-level nonprofit membership association that supports charitable organizations through legal, consulting, development, and collaborative capacity-building services. It operates the Standards for Excellence Institute, an accreditation program for nonprofits, and serves as the parent organization for affiliated state nonprofit associations such as the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO). Its offerings include training, webinars, conferences, consulting, and a Consultant Collaborative program connecting member organizations with vetted service providers.

Product overview

Maryland Nonprofits operates as the parent organization for the Standards for Excellence Institute, a comprehensive nonprofit capacity-building ecosystem. The primary offerings include the Standards for Excellence Program (accreditation, training, and self-assessment tools), the Consultant Collaborative network, Ask PANO help desk services, training programs, annual conferences, and membership programs. The Standards for Excellence Program serves as the core product, providing ethics and accountability standards with multiple recognition pathways including Accreditation (Seal of Excellence) and Basics Recognition. Supporting products include online assessment tools, The PANO Navigator resource platform, Standards for All publications and Values to Action Roadmap toolkit released in 2026, and advocacy services. The organization primarily serves nonprofits in Pennsylvania through its state partner PANO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standards for Excellence Accreditation Program A nonprofit accreditation and quality assurance program operated by the Standards for Excellence Institute, providing a recognized ethics and operational benchmark for charitable organizations seeking sector validation.
• Consultant Collaborative A program that connects member nonprofit organizations with vetted consultants who provide capacity-building services across governance, fundraising, and operations.
• PANO Statewide Conference An annual statewide conference for Pennsylvania nonprofit professionals offering educational sessions, networking, and exposure to vendors and resources serving the nonprofit sector.
• Nonprofit Member Services A bundle of member benefits including legal guidance, consulting, development support, and charge-up collaboration services for nonprofit organizations.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• National Council of NonprofitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANO works closely with the National Council of Nonprofits and other state associations across the country to influence policy at all levels of government and across all branches of government.
• Standards for Excellence InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANO is accredited by the national Standards for Excellence Institute and imparts and upholds the highest standard of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations.
• Villanova UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPANO partners with Villanova University for the Annual Collaborative Conference, with the 2026 conference scheduled to be held at Villanova.
• Colmena ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis work was co-facilitated by PANO and Colmena Consulting, a research and strategy partner committed to advancing equity in the nonprofit sector. Melissa Sines, one of the co-founders of Colmena Consulting, worked with PANO on the Standards for All project.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Independent Sector: National membership coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs; broader scope than PANO but overlaps significantly in policy advocacy and sector-wide research.

Direct peers

• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations; PANO is a key state partner and the two collaborate on federal/state advocacy, making it the closest peer in mission and member base.
• Nonprofit New York: Statewide nonprofit membership association serving New York with policy advocacy, training, and consulting—directly comparable to PANO in operating geography and service offerings.
• Nonprofit Association of Oregon: Statewide nonprofit membership association providing advocacy, training, and resources to Oregon nonprofits; same member-based association model as PANO.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: Comparable state-level membership association providing training, advocacy, and capacity-building services to Minnesota nonprofits; directly mirrors PANO's model and service portfolio.
• Maryland Nonprofits: Sibling state-level nonprofit association and the parent operating entity behind the Standards for Excellence Institute; shares service mix (training, advocacy, capacity building) and similar membership model.
• Standards for Excellence Institute: Accrediting body for the Standards for Excellence program that PANO delivers; operates as a peer capacity-building nonprofit focused on ethics and accountability accreditation for nonprofits.

Others

• Colmena Consulting: Strategy and research partner that co-developed the Standards for All initiative with PANO; comparable as a nonprofit-sector equity-focused consulting partner and ecosystem participant.

Regional players

• National Council of Nonprofits State Association Network (other state members): Other state-level nonprofit associations affiliated with the National Council of Nonprofits (e.g., Nonprofit Ohio, Forefront in Illinois) operate the same model in their respective states and are direct regional comparables.

Emerging players

• BoardSource: National nonprofit focused on nonprofit governance, board training, and leadership—overlaps with PANO's training, board education, and Standards for Excellence governance content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PANONonprofits
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-association-of-nonprofit-organizations-pano-
• Instagraminstagram.com/panononprofits/?hl=en
• Xx.com/mdnonprofits

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maryland Nonprofits