# 360Giving Standard policy - normative and non-normative content

**URL:** <https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/360giving-standard-policy-normative-and-non-normative-content/342>\
**Category:** Standard\
**Created:** [9 March 2020 10:42 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/360giving-standard-policy-normative-and-non-normative-content/342 "2020-03-09T10:42:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![katherine.duerden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@katherine.duerden](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/u/katherine.duerden)\
**Post date:** [9 March 2020 10:42 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/360giving-standard-policy-normative-and-non-normative-content/342/1 "2020-03-09T10:42:55Z")

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I am pleased to share a new policy that has been approved by the 360Giving Standard Stewardship Committee, at a meeting held on 22 November 2019.

This policy aims to provide clear guidance about what content on the 360Giving Data Standard documentation website is normative and non-normative, and the associated change processes for each.

The 360Giving Standard [documentation website](http://standard.threesixtygiving.org/en/latest/) includes a mixture of content that is normative and therefore is defined as the 360Giving Data Standard and non-normative content, which is guidance about related topics.

**Key definitions**

- Normative : Normative content is the prescriptive part of a standard. It sets the rules to be followed in order to be evaluated as compliant with the standard, and from which no deviation is permitted; contains recommendations that have official standing; and provides options which, if implemented, must be done in a given way in order to remain compliant.
- Non-normative : Non-normative content is the non-prescriptive, or ‘descriptive’, part of a standard. This may include analogies, synonyms, explanations, illustrations, context and examples. Non-normative content must not contradict normative content.

The policy can be [read and downloaded here](https://www.threesixtygiving.org/wp-content/uploads/360Giving-Standard-Policy-Normative-and-non-normative-content_final_2020-02-28.pdf).

Next steps will be to re-order and label normative and non-normative elements of the Standard documentation website to make the different sections more apparent.

If you have any questions about this new policy, please comment below.