Celebrating Excellence in the Central Texas Nonprofit Sector

Do you know a Central Texas nonprofit that has demonstrated outstanding achievements in the categories of Collaboration, Impact, Innovation & Learning or Board Excellence, or a nonprofit employee who should be celebrated as the Nonprofit Leader of the Year? Nominate them today! Award winners receive a $1,000 grant, a commemorative award and recognition on Greenlights’ website and blog as well as on the Texas Nonprofit Summit website.

Key Dates

Nominations - The deadline for nominations is May 29, 2012, 5 PM
Winners notified - By July 9
Awards presented at the Texas Nonprofit Summit - September 20

Award Categories

• Collaboration - The Collaboration Award highlights a successful partnership between a nonprofit and another nonprofit, business, foundation, or other entity that has resulted in improved impact and has achieved greater outcomes for both organizations because of their unique association. The two collaborating entities can be nominated for a shared award (within one nomination application). Both entities will receive a $1,000 grant.
• Impact - The Impact Award honors a nonprofit organization, or one of its programs, whose notable performance and delivery to the community sets a high standard of quality and impact. This organization can demonstrate ways in which it continually seeks to measure and improve impact.
• Innovation & Learning - The Innovation & Learning Award honors a nonprofit organization whose creation and application of new approaches or learning (from a workshop, conference, consulting engagement, book, etc.) to its work has advanced the organization and serves as a model for other nonprofits. This new practice or approach is being, or has been, incorporated into the fabric of the organization and makes an affirmative enhancement to the operation or core activities of its mission.
• Board Excellence - The Board Excellence Award recognizes an organization for its success in fostering an engaged and effective board. This organization can demonstrate the board’s direct linkage to the overall success of the organization, or in areas such as fundraising, advocacy, strategic planning, successful leadership transitions, etc.
• Nonprofit Leader of the Year - The Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award celebrates a nonprofit staff member whose masterful achievements in their role have directly benefited the organization’s operating capacity and impact in the community. Individuals from all levels of employment are considered.

Past Award Winners

Nomination Guidelines 

Download a pdf version of the nominations guidelines.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES & ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Deadline for submissions is May 29, 2012 at 5 PM
• All nominations, including attachments, must be submitted through the nomination form.
• To nominate an organization for different categories, please submit one nomination form per category.
• Self-nominations are welcome.
• Winners will be notified the week of July 9, 2012.
• The Nonprofit Excellence Awards are open to 501(c)(3) public charities located in the Travis, Caldwell, Hays, Bastrop, or Williamson counties in Texas who are Greenlights members. Not a member? Join today to be considered for a Nonprofit Excellence Award and gain access to a variety of other benefits. Membership is available for all nonprofit organizations regardless of size ($125-$350 annually depending on your operating budget). Benefits apply to all staff and board members of the member organization.
• The Executive Director, Board Officer, or appropriate representative of the winning organization must attend the event on September 20, 2012 to receive the award.

NOMINATION NARRATIVE
In the space provided in the nomination form, submit a narrative that includes the following (750 word limit):

• A description of the specific program, activity, initiative or accomplishment for which the nomination is being cast.
• Briefly state the starting point from which results could be measured (i.e. what the organization, service area or constituent pool were like prior to the activity for which the nomination is being submitted).
• What measurable, positive results ensued.
• How the achievement can be a model of inspiration for other organizations.

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
The following attachments are required in order for the nomination to be considered. Combined size of attachments must not exceed 5 MB. If you are nominating two collaborating entities, both of which are nonprofits, please email the second entity's 501(c)(3) IRS Tax Determination Letter and the most recent year's financial statements to Kate Smallwood or call her at 512-477-5955 ext. 247 if you need assistance. Nominations for collaborating entities need not submit two letters of recommendation as one is sufficient.

• 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
• The immediate past year’s financial statements (balance sheet and income statement). Audited financials are preferred, but if these are not available, then please submit the organization’s most recent 990. If the 990 is not available, then internally-produced financial statements with a description of internal review and controls may be submitted.
• Letter of recommendation from someone who is not a staff or board member at the nominated organization or the person making the nominating, and who can corroborate or validate the information submitted about the program, activity, initiative or accomplishment being nominated.

How Nominations Are Evaluated

The Nonprofit Excellence Awards are selected by an independent panel comprised of community and business leaders. No extra points or consideration are given for multiple nominations being submitted for a particular organization.

In order to be a model example, an organization must be able to demonstrate positive, measurable results (either external impact on clients served or demonstrable internal impact on efficiency, effectiveness, etc.). Nominations for a specific program, activity, initiative or accomplishment are judged more favorably than general nominations for the overall mission of a nonprofit.

The general ability of the organization to sustain the program, activity or initiative for which the nomination is made is important, which is why financial statements are requested.

Award

Honorees receive the following:

• A $1,000 grant and a commemorative award
• Recognition on Greenlights’ website and blog and on the Texas Nonprofit Summit’s website

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