The Alliance for Performance Excellence

THE ALLIANCE FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

Better organizations start with better questions.

We connect state, regional and sector performance excellence programs, giving organizations across every sector, and communities working toward greater resilience and excellence, a trusted place to begin.

Find your state program

Find performance improvement help near you — click your state

20+ Years

Strengthening organizations and communities through the Baldrige framework

28 Members

State, regional, sector, program and individual members advancing performance excellence

$3 Million

In donated examiner services every year

The pathway

Start locally. Build capability. Pursue national recognition when you're ready.

  1. Your organization / community

    Start where you are. Use the Baldrige framework to ask better questions about leadership, strategy, customers, workforce and results.

  2. State / regional program

    Work with the Baldrige-based program near you for training, assessment, honest feedback and recognition as you build capability.

  3. National Baldrige

    When your approaches are mature and your results are strong, pursue the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Where are you on your excellence journey?

Select the option that best describes your organization. We'll guide you to the right next steps.

We’re just learning about Baldrige

Learn how Baldrige helps organizations improve, explore helpful introductory resources, and connect with a state or regional program for guidance as you begin your journey.

Explore Baldrige

We’ve begun using the Framework

Explore training, tools, assessments, and practical support that can help your organization apply the Baldrige Framework with greater confidence and continue building on its progress.

Find support

We’re ready for a formal assessment

Connect with your state or regional program to understand assessment options, prepare your organization, and receive helpful feedback on strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Find your program

We’re considering the National Baldrige Award

Review the National Baldrige Award’s eligibility requirements, application process, key dates, and expectations to determine whether your organization is prepared to take this next step.

Explore the award

Performance Excellence in Action

See the reach of Alliance member programs and the broader results of the national Baldrige program.

Alliance member programs

The Alliance's Scale in 2025

These numbers reflect activity across the Alliance's state, regional and sector member programs.

Applications received

1,179

Organizations applied through Alliance member programs in 2025.

Examiners trained

686

People trained to evaluate organizations and provide feedback.

Top-level recipients

9

Organizations earned top-level recognition through member programs.

National Baldrige program

The Broader Impact of Baldrige

These national figures describe the Baldrige program and award recipients across the United States.

Estimated economic value

590:1

Estimated benefit-to-cost ratio for the U.S. economy in a national evaluation.

National award wins

103

Baldrige Award wins, including organizations recognized more than once.

Revenue growth

41%

Median revenue growth reported for two-time Baldrige Award winners.

Results in Action

Organizations across sectors using the Baldrige framework to get measurably better.

Southcentral Foundation

Health Care · Alaska · Baldrige Award Recipient: 2011 and 2017

Southcentral Foundation

Transforming access to care while reducing costly utilization

The challenge

Health care for roughly 65,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people was fragmented and heavily dependent on emergency and specialty care.

The Baldrige approach

The customer-driven Nuka System of Care put relationships and same-day access at the centre, with Baldrige-based systems for listening, measurement and improvement.

Fewer ER and urgent care visits

50%

Fewer hospital admissions

53%

Reduction in specialty care

65%

Sustained impact

Two-time Baldrige Award recipient, with utilisation down sharply and multiple health measures above the national 90th percentile.

City of Fort Collins

Government · Colorado

City of Fort Collins

Building a high-performing city around measurable outcomes

A fast-growing city needed to keep service quality, finances and quality of life improving as its population expanded.

Poudre Valley Health System

Health Care · Colorado

Poudre Valley Health System

Improving outcomes, loyalty and the cost of care

The system needed to improve clinical outcomes and patient loyalty while controlling the cost of care.

Alamo Colleges District

Education · Texas

Alamo Colleges District

Turning student support into dramatically better completion

More than 77,000 students across five colleges were taking too long to graduate, with completion rates far below potential.

See More Stories of Excellence

Interested in the National Baldrige Award?

Learn about eligibility, the application process, key dates and what to expect from the Baldrige Award process.

Explore the National Baldrige Award

The People Behind The Alliance

Staff, board leadership, and representatives from the Alliance's state and regional members.

“We do Baldrige because it saves lives, strengthens schools and keeps good organizations in business. That is not an overstatement.”
Brian LassiterCEO & President · CEO & President · The Alliance for Performance Excellence
Learn more about the people behind the Alliance

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Latest news

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Part of a National Performance Excellence Network

The Alliance works across the Baldrige ecosystem with national partners, regional programs, performance excellence leaders, and organizations committed to improving results.

DEPT OF COMMERCE
FOUNDATION
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“We do Baldrige because it saves lives.”
— Brian Lassiter · CEO & President, The Alliance for Performance Excellence
READ MORE BALDRIGE STORIES