Deadline: 09-Jul-21
The Blade and Greater Toledo Community Foundation, in partnership with The Center for Nonprofit Resources, are pleased to announce the 2021 Nonprofit Innovation & Excellence Awards. The Awards are designed to honor and recognize outstanding nonprofit organizations and their achievements in their community.
Categories
Awards will be given to three nonprofit organizations, one in each of the following categories:
- Nonprofit Innovation Award
- Nonprofit Excellence Award – Small Organization (Budget less than $500,000)
- Nonprofit Excellence Award – Large Organization (Budget more than $500,000).
Awards Eligibility and Criteria
In each category, applicant organizations should meet the following general eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and based in northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan.
- Organizations may apply for and are eligible to win in more than one award category, but must submit a separate application for each category, and must address the criteria specific to each award.
- Once an organization has received an award, that organization will become ineligible for that same award for the following three years.
Nonprofit Innovation Award Criteria
This award is intended to honor and showcase a project, program or initiative that demonstrates an innovative and effective response to community challenges. The organization’s innovative project, program or initiative should have taken place or been completed within the past 18-24 months.
The strongest applications will be from organizations that can demonstrate effective and efficient use of human and financial resources, and involve the collaboration of other nonprofit organizations, businesses and/or governmental agencies in their efforts.
Address each of the following sections in the application and clearly identify each section with a descriptive heading,
- Description – Provide a description of the specific project, program or initiative for which the application is being made. Include details about how the project, program or initiative represents an innovative and creative solution to community opportunities and/or challenges.
- Results – Provide a description of what measurable, positive results have ensued.
- Uniqueness/Model of Inspiration – Explain within the context of the field in which the organization operates how the identified innovation is cutting edge and unique as well as how it is or could be a model of inspiration for other organizations.
Nonprofit Excellence Award – Large and Small Organization Criteria
This award is intended to recognize an organization for overall excellence. The application is designed to give considerable flexibility for an organization to tell its excellence story.
The strongest applications will be from those organizations that demonstrate active involvement by staff, board members, volunteers, constituents and other stakeholders in advancing the mission of the organization.
Additionally, it is expected that applications will highlight impact and results, not only process.
Applicants must have been a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code for at least five years and have a local governance and management structure in place.
In the application, the applicant should cite concrete examples of best practices within the organization that demonstrate excellence, and achievements that distinguish the organization’s work, in the following areas:
- Governance – provide examples that demonstrate organizational excellence in governance.
- Financial Management – provide examples that show the organization’s financial management is strong, transparent and accountable.
- Fundraising – provide examples of how the organization’s development strategies are donor centered and effective.
- Evaluation/Community Impact – cite examples of how outcome data is used to achieve the organization’s mission and how this impacts their community.
For more information, visit https://www.toledocf.org/2021/05/apply-now-for-northwest-ohio-nonprofit-innovation-excellence-awards/