This document proposes new shared standards for YNPN chapters. It discusses challenges and benchmarks for Novice, Emerging, and Affiliate chapters. The proposed new standards provide guidelines for board structure, events, membership, online presence, sustainability plans, and fiscal responsibilities. The document also outlines a process for annual chapter reviews and graduating between levels. If approved, the new standards would take effect in January 2013 after revisions based on feedback from the August 2012 Leaders Conference.

1. SHARED STANDARDS
YNPN CHAPTERS

2. Questions to think about:
•What has the 3.0/Congress process itself
been like for your chapter?
•What’s really excites you about what
you’re hearing?
•What concerns you about what you’re
hearing?

3. TASKFORCE
• Review current network standards for
chapters and create a new slate of standards
for the network (July 2012)
• Understand key challenges and benchmarks
for each level - Novice, Emerging, Affiliate
• Revisions of first draft of new standards
completed by August 2012

4. NOVICE CHAPTERS
CHALLENGES OLD BENCHMARKS
- Board development (moving - 200 members on listserv
from a steering committee to a
formalized board)
- 3 programming events by end
of first year in operation
- Membership
recruitment/retention
- 1 person from leadership
team attend Leaders
- Securing space for events/board Conference
meetings

5. EMERGING CHAPTERS
CHALLENGES OLD BENCHMARKS
- Membership - 400 members on listserv
recruitment/retention
- Cycled through one board
- Board development recruitment process
- Strategic planning - Fiscal/strategic planning
process for chapter
- Paid membership
discussions/processes - 3 yrs old

6. AFFILIATE CHAPTERS
CHALLENGES OLD BENCHMARKS
- 501c3 status - 800 members on listserv
- Securing position as a leader/ - Cycled through 2 board
go-to organization in recruitment process
community
- Host Leaders Conference
- Fiduciary responsibilities
- Annual membership drive

8. NOVICE/SPRING CHAPTERS
• Board of Directors
o range from 4 - 20 people
o Chair, Co-Chair (optional), Treasurer (optional), Secretary
• By-laws for chapter
• A clear mission statement
o a clear target audience (nonprofit professionals)
o a vision statement is optional and up to each chapter to decide on
• 4 events per year (broken down into quarters)
• A defined membership list/communication channel to communicate with members
o member profile
• A virtual home for the chapter (online presence)
o LinkedIn
o Twitter
o Facebook Group
o Website
• A logo for chapter

9. EMERGING CHAPTERS
• Age requirement (3 - 5 yrs) - for sustainability
• Sustainability plan
o
range from 1 - 5 years
o
sponsorship/partnership
o
format can be flexible
• Engaged Membership
o
paid and non-paid breakdown
• A signature annual event

10. ESTABLISHED/AFFILIATE CHAPTERS
• Settled on fiscal sponsor/501c3 status for chapter
• A robust fiscal/budgetary process/template
o
budgets (actual, programming)
o
over a specific timeframe
o
chapter bank account
• 5+ years
• Formalized board and alumni board roles
• Professional programming slate

11. OVERALL
STANDARDS FOR ALL
YNPN CHAPTERS

12. YNPN CHAPTERS
• Annual report chapter
• Mentor another
o availability/capacity
o 1-to-1 mentor model or
o case studies/stories
• Partner of chapter org that is invested in the success and
growth
with 1 local
o within 1 year of operation
• Innovative spirit to nonprofit sector
o commitment
• National liaison contact

13. PROCESS FOR GRADUATING TO NEW
LEVEL
1. Review of chapters done annually, at the end of the calendar
year
2. YNPN Chapters committee responsible for implementing review
process
a. Review template
b. Grading scale (i.e. point system?)
3. Disputes of chapter level will be taken to Chapter Congress
4. Chapters can slide up and down the levels scale depending on
performance
5. Announcement of new chapter level/grade published to listserv
and on National's website

14. PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
- July 2012: Proposal submitted to YNPN (Chapter Congress),
edits/comments to proposal documented
- August 2012: Proposal revision discussed at YNPN Leaders
Conference and final proposal adopted
o Every chapter must vote to approve new standards
o Majority wins; challenges/concerns from dissenting chapters taken into
consideration
- September - November 2012: Chapters re-assigned to new
levels, YNPN Chapters develop review template
- January 2013: New shared standards in place and operational
• Review of new standards done December 2013