Communities of Excellence 2026 : Home

Meet Our Communities

Eighteen communities are working together to share approaches, best practices, and challenges, with the ultimate goal of improving the overall health status, educational attainment and economic vitality for their residents.

Learn about these Communities
Beginning Spring 2020 we will be accepting 6 new communities for the 2020-2021 National Learning Collaborative 4th Cohort

Learn More about our National Learning Collaborative
Helping Communities Improve their Performance

Our assessment process helps communities understand what's working and what can be improved in their overall community performance.

Congratulations to the 12 recipients for the 2019 Assessment and Recognition Program
Why We Exist

"For America to sustain its vitality, promote opportunity, and create a more equitable society during its second 250 years of existence, we must improve the performance of communities and the people who lead and live in them."

Learn more and get involved

Mission

Improve the quality of life for our nation’s residents by assisting communities in implementing the Baldrige-based Communities of Excellence Framework.

"For America to sustain its vitality, promote opportunity, and create a more equitable society during its second 250 years of existence, we must improve the performance of communities and the people who lead and live in them." Learn more and get involved.

Events

Fundraisers and events help us raise awareness and generate crucial resources to serve our community. Join us at our next event and see how you can get involved.
Find out more.

Events

Fundraisers and events help us raise awareness and generate crucial resources to serve our community. Join us at our next event and see how you can get involved.
Find out more.

A Growing Sense of Urgency

The need for fundamental change

Kruse Scholars

Meet the Next Generations of Leaders: Learn more about the Kruse Communities of Excellence Scholarship recipients
Read more.

News

February 10, 2020

Recruiting Senior Leaders is an Essential Ingredient in Community Excellence

Two Leaders in South Florida Share Their Recipe for Effective Leadership

February 6, 2020 | By Christel Gollnick with contributions from COE 2026 participants | 5 minute read

September 27, 2019

New Version of the Communities of Excellence Framework is now available!

Thanks to feedback from our faculty, staff and Learning Collaborative community leaders, the 2019 revision of the Framework is now complete and ready for viewing.

Where to view the Communities of Excellence Framework:
Click on the Framework link on our website.
For printed copies email us at info@communitiesofexcellence2026.org. Printed copies will be shipped depending on availability. A printing and shipping fee will apply. Minimum of 10 per order.

What's New with the Framework:
Criteria were updated consistent with the recent Baldrige Criteria update where relevant.
Most significant revisions are found in Categories 3 and 5, the Notes and the Glossary.
Improvements and clarifications to the language in the Core Values.
Minor grammar and editing errors were fixed.

Communities of Excellence 2026 would like to give a special thanks to Ellen Garshick for her thoughtfulness and leadership in completing these revisions

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