About The Alliance
WHO WE ARE
A collaborative network advancing performance excellence
Our member programs provide education, assessments, professional development, recognition, examiner training and peer learning designed to help organizations improve.
While Baldrige is central to our work, the Alliance is about much more than an award. Members share resources, knowledge, mentoring and best practices that would be difficult for any single program to build alone.
National network
State, regional, sector and national programs working as one community.
Member-driven
Shaped by the programs and practitioners who serve organizations every day.
Nonprofit
A 501(c)(3) that reinvests in members, tools and access.
WHO WE SERVE
Organizations enter the journey at different stages
Through our members and partners we serve organizations of every size, across every sector.
WHAT WE DO
How We Support You
What the Alliance Offers
Member Support
Backing state, regional, sector and national programs with shared capacity.
Examiner Development
Examiner training and resources that build lasting expertise.
Resources & Best Practices
Tools, knowledge and proven practices shared across the network.
National Baldrige Award
Administering the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process.
What Our Members Offer
Professional & Examiner Development
Training and learning for leaders, staff and practitioners — including hands-on examiner training that builds real assessment expertise.
Organizational Assessments
Structured assessments that help organizations understand strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Recognition Programs
State, regional and sector award programs recognizing performance excellence.
Local Guidance & Support
Direct support from people who understand your region, sector and local business environment.
$3M+
value of donated examiner expertise contributed every year
- Program leaders
- Examiners
- Volunteers
- Educators
POWERED BY PEOPLE
An extraordinary volunteer network
Volunteerism has been central to the Baldrige community for decades, making high-quality assessment, learning and improvement accessible to organizations across the country.
It also creates one of the Alliance's greatest assets: a community of experienced people willing to share what they know.
LEADERSHIP
The people behind the Alliance
The Alliance is led by a volunteer Board, supported by staff and by program leaders across the country. Select anyone to read more and reach their program.
A NATIONAL NETWORK WITH LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Support close to you
Each member program brings its own leadership, services and local relationships — while sharing knowledge and experience across the country.
Excellence is a journey. There is no single starting point.
Wherever you begin — a question, an assessment, a first framework read — the Alliance helps connect you with the people and programs that move you forward.
Our Purpose
To inspire individuals, organizations and communities across the United States and the world to learn, implement and achieve higher levels of performance.
Our Mission
To strengthen members through training, mentoring, collaboration and sharing of resources, best practices and service offerings.
Our Vision
To be the premier resource for organizations and communities seeking to achieve and sustain excellence.
OUR CORE VALUES
How we work
Act with Integrity
We are honest, ethical, authentic and transparent in how we work and serve.
Value People
We show respect, professionalism, empathy and inclusion for everyone we work with.
Collaborate
We share ideas and resources, build partnerships and solve problems together.
Focus on Excellence
We embrace systems-based improvement, learning and stronger results.
PART OF THE BROADER BALDRIGE ENTERPRISE
Distinct roles, shared purpose
Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
- Federal steward of the Baldrige Award and Excellence Framework
- Provides federal oversight through NIST and the U.S. Department of Commerce
- Confers the national award and approves revisions to the Framework
Alliance for Performance Excellence
- National network of state, regional, and sector performance excellence programs
- Administers the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process
- Evaluates applicants and submits recipient recommendations to NIST and the U.S. Department of Commerce
Baldrige Foundation
- Advances and sustains the Baldrige mission nationwide
- Supports the continued development of the Baldrige Excellence Framework
- Hosts Quest for Excellence and administers the Baldrige Fellows Program
White paper
Using the Baldrige Excellence Framework improves organizational resilience and sustainability
Learn from leaders of sixteen organizations recognized by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and Alliance member programs as they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic — and see the sixteen themes identified from their interviews.
Read the white paper (PDF)Key findings
- 94%said embedding Baldrige into organizational culture was critical.
- 88%emphasized strategic planning.
- 81%highlighted strong, consistent leadership.
- 69%stressed meaningful metrics and measurement.
- The framework supported greater agility, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Start from where you are.
Performance excellence isn't reserved for organizations pursuing an award. It begins with asking better questions and deciding what to improve next.
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
Our commitment to integrity
The Alliance for Performance Excellence is committed to operating in furtherance of its tax-exempt purpose and in compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations, including those concerning accounting and auditing, and prohibits fraudulent practices by any of its board members, officers, employees, or volunteers. If you have a concern regarding practices of any board member, officer, employee, or volunteer, you may contact Margot Hoffman, Board Chair, at margot.hoffman@partnershipohio.org. No one who in good faith reports an ethics violation shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse consequences.
The Alliance for Performance Excellence is committed to operating in furtherance of its tax-exempt purpose and in compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations, including those concerning accounting and auditing, and prohibits fraudulent practices by any of its board members, officers, employees, or volunteers, If you have a concern regarding practices of any board member, officer, employee, or volunteer, you may contact Margot Hoffman, Board Chair, at margot.hoffman@partnershipohio.org. No one who in good faith reports an ethics violation shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse consequences.