Our Pathways to Excellence Program

A tiered, voluntary journey that supports Assessment Centers to build, measure, and sustain quality—aligned with the NAC Framework and informed by approaches like Community Action Agencies and Baldrige methodologies.

Centers can begin at an entry “commitment” level and progress through increasingly rigorous standards that deepen engagement with the Assessment Center Framework. Each level builds on the previous, culminating in recognition as a Center of Excellence.

Annual Recognition: Agencies that complete a level by January 1 are formally recognized at the annual NAC Conference.

Levels & Requirements

Bronze Level

Commitment to Excellence

First step toward excellence—learn the Framework and core best practices; invest in staff training.

  • (1) NAC membership and completed agency profile
  • (2) Assessment Center 101 for all Board/governance members and required in staff onboarding
Silver Level

Planning for Excellence

Reflect on current operations using the Self-Assessment tool, align to the Framework, and build an action plan via a cohort experience.

  • (1) Complete Bronze requirements
  • (2) Establish an Implementation Team
  • (3) Cohort kick-off meeting with NAC
  • (4) Participate in monthly cohort meetings (≈8 months)
  • (5) Implementation Team meets between sessions to carry out tasks
  • (6) Develop an agency action plan based on Self-Assessment results
Gold Level

Implementation of Excellence

Implement your plan and demonstrate year-over-year improvement through repeated Self-Assessments and progress on action items.

  • (1) Complete Bronze and Silver requirements
  • (2) Complete a second Self-Assessment to compare ratings/scores and document improvements
Center of Excellence

Peer-Validated Excellence

Onsite verification by experienced peer reviewers to confirm alignment and implementation of the Framework.

  • (1) Complete Gold requirements
  • (2) Submit latest Self-Assessment (all core components within implementation or sustainment, or the majority of benchmarks at Formal Policy & Practice)
  • (3) Submit application and required items (fees apply)
  • (4) Host a site visit by up to 5 Excellence reviewers + NAC staff (center covers reviewer visit costs)

At-a-Glance Comparison

RequirementBronzeSilverGoldCoE
NAC Membership + Agency Profile ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Assessment Center 101 (Board + Onboarding) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Implementation Team Established — ✓ ✓ ✓
Cohort Participation (≈8 months) — ✓ ✓ ✓
Action Plan from Self-Assessment — ✓ ✓ (progress tracked) ✓
2nd Self-Assessment (YoY Improvements) — — ✓ ✓
Application & Fees (CoE) — — — ✓
Onsite Peer Review Visit — — — ✓
Framework Alignment Threshold Learn Plan Implement Verify (Implementation/Sustainment)