Many of the island’s charities and government departments working in the social and human services sectors are well run, an oversight organisation has stated.

Nicola Paugh, the executive director of the Non-Profit Alliance of Bermuda, said that a host of charities had been either accredited or certified by the Bermuda National Standards Committee.

The committee provides the credentials based on the Bermuda National Standards of Excellence.

It operates through a partnership with the US Council on Accreditation and the Non-Profit Alliance of Bermuda to assess and designate internationally validated standards of excellence.

Dr Paugh said: “These achievements demonstrate that high standards of governance, programming and service delivery are being met by many of Bermuda’s non-profits.

“We believe it is important to highlight designated organisations, to promote their leadership and commitment to excellence.

“We encourage others in the non-profit sector to consider a designation.

“Having a designation is not only about demonstrating high standards and best practices, but is also a valuable tool for the donor community to consider when making funding decisions.”

The designation highlights an organisation’s commitment to quality, transparency and operational excellence in Bermuda’s social and human services sectors.

Founded in 2005, the BNSC began as a collaborative effort among the Government, non-profits, donors and community members dedicated to upholding internationally recognised standards.

In April, the management of the BNSC certification and accreditation process transitioned to the NAB. As a part of the NAB’s rollout of services, it is highlighting organisations with an existing BNSC designation.

Myra Virgil, the chief executive and managing director of the Bermuda Community Foundation, said: “We view the BNSC designation as an essential marker of operational strength and public accountability.

“It’s a signal to donors that an organisation is invested in doing things better and right. We actively incorporate certification and accreditation into our grant-making frameworks, not as a barrier but in an effort to ensure our support is both responsible and catalytic.

“We’re thrilled to see the momentum behind the BNSC designations and that non-profits will be recognised for their commitment to quality improvement.”

Vivien Carter, the director of philanthropy at the Centennial Bermuda Foundation, added: “Of the 20 BNSC-certified organisations we fund, over half have received multiyear grants — proof of our confidence in their sustainability and programme quality.

“In our 2024 grantee cohort, 30 per cent are BNSC-credentialled, and most of them have shown strong outcomes, steady leadership and solid internal systems.

“These are key factors in our decision to award longer-term funding partnerships.”

• For more information about the BNSC accreditation or certification process, visit nonprofitalliance.bm. Donors or corporate giving committees can also view an accreditation and certification toolkit for guidance on how to best use the designation in funding decisions