DFI awarded Progression Level IQ accreditation

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded Progression Level accreditation under the Improving Quality (IQ) standard, which is the highest level of this independently verified quality mark for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

What is the IQ standard?

The Improving Quality (IQ) standard is a quality management framework developed specifically for small to medium-sized community and voluntary sector organisations. It assesses organisations across four key elements:

• Welcoming: how accessible and inclusive the organisation is
• Accountable: how transparent and well-governed the organisation is
• Effective: how well the organisation delivers on its mission
• Sustainable: how resilient and future-ready the organisation is.

The standard operates at Foundation and Progression levels. Progression represents the highest tier, recognising not only that an organisation is meeting best practice standards, but that it has embedded a genuine culture of continuous improvement.

What the assessment involved

Achieving Progression Level accreditation is a rigorous process. It involved an independent external assessor reviewing a comprehensive self-assessment workbook and supporting evidence, followed by interviews of staff and other stakeholders. The assessor then produced a detailed report outlining findings, good practices identified, and recommendations.

What this means for DFI

This accreditation is a significant milestone for DFI and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. It provides independent, external validation that DFI operates to the highest standards of governance, accountability and organisational effectiveness, and that we are committed to continuously improving the way we work.

For our members, partners and funders, this accreditation offers assurance that DFI is a well-governed, transparent and effective organisation. It demontrates that we take our responsibilities seriously and always strive to do better.

The IQ Quality Mark is valid for three years, during which DFI will continue to use the standard as a development tool to guide ongoing improvement across the organisation.

A team effort

Achieving this accreditation has been a collective effort, and we want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone across the DFI team who contributed to the process. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and grateful to our members, supporters and partners whose trust and collaboration make our work possible.