June 24, 2008 : The New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards
Announces 2008 Winners:

Community Health Action of Staten Island

Harlem RBI, Inc.

Ifetayo Cultural Arts

Institute for Family Health

Community Health Action of Staten Island — Winner for Overall Management Excellence ($25,000 cash award). Community Health improves the lives of individuals, families and communities challenged by health disparities related to poverty, discrimination and lack of access, through direct service, education and advocacy. The selection committee cited Community Health's successful response to emerging communities by initiating new programs, modifying its mission and actively seeking feedback from clients. (www.siheathaction.org)

Harlem RBI — Winner for Excellent Communications ($5,000 cash award). Harlem RBI uses baseball and softball, and the power of teams, to provide inner-city youth with opportunities to play, to learn, and to grow, inspiring them to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. In addition to communications, the selection committee was impressed with Harlem RBI's board governance and leadership, in particular, its use of a Board Member Report Card that resulted in a 20 percent increase in board attendance. (www.harlemrbi.org)

Ifetayo Cultural Arts — Winner for Excellent Culturally-Based Management Strategies ($5,000 cash award). Ifetayo supports the creative, educational and vocational development of youth and families of African descent. The selection committee noted Ifetayo's strong focus on results and online date-driven tracking system, which allows parents, teachers and community members to track the progress of students. (www.ifetayo.org)

Each of the four winning organizations will also receive a scholarship of $4,500 to be applied toward the The Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia Business School Executive Education.

Go Show Entertainment graciously donated its services for the 2008 Awards, attending and filming each site visit, and produced a short film highlighting the excellent management practices employed by the four winners. It can be seen at www.goseaentertainment.com/index.php?sub=microdocs#.

About the Awards

The awards are a collaborative effort of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC) and the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG), which joined the Times Company in establishing this program.

Purpose
The Awards: (1) raise public awareness about excellent management in the nonprofit sector; and (2) encourage excellent management and governance by nonprofits themselves.  The program is open to all 501(c)(3) organizations based in and serving the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester counties.  (Applications for next year’s awards will be available in fall 2008.)

Need
The program partners designed the program around the belief that excellent management of nonprofit organizations is crucial to the quality of their services. As nonprofits play a critical role in enriching and improving the lives of people throughout the greater New York City area, the Awards program aims to recognize and encourage strong management, innovation and communication within New York’s large and diverse nonprofit community.

Approach
The application process requires that nonprofits address the seven key areas of nonprofit management below.  The strongest applications are from those organizations where discussion and reflection have been invested by staff, board, volunteers and other stakeholders prior to completing their applications.   

1. Overall management focus on results
2. Governance structure that moves the organization forward
3. Strong, transparent and accountable financial management
4. Inclusive and diverse organizational practices
5. Enlightened use of human and other resources
6. Regular and effective communications
7. Effective, ethical fundraising and resource development

Collaborators & Supporters
The New York Times Company Community Affairs Department, Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, and New York Regional Association of Grantmakers collaborate in presenting the Awards. Additional support is provided by the Surdna Foundation, RSM McGladrey, Inc, the Fund for the City of New York, The Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia Busines School Executive Education, The New York Community Trust, the Altman Foundation, The Clark Foundation, and GoShow Entertainment.  Citi lent its support to the Nonprofit Excellence Awards by underwriting a special section to be published in The New York Times on July 7, 2008.

The winners of the Nonprofit Excellence Awards were chosen by a selection committee comprised of influential leaders in New York City’s nonprofit community. Members of the committee included:
Darren Walker, Rockefeller Foundation, selection committee chair
Victoria Bailey, Theatre Development Fund
Irene Baldwin, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development
Fran Barrett, Community Resource Exchange
Raphael Bemporad, BBMG Branding
Joyce Bove, The New York Community Trust
Jessica Chao, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Kristin Giantris, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Don Crocker, Support Center for Nonprofit Management
Michael Davidson, Governance Matters
Sean Delany, Lawyers Alliance of New York
Dennis Derryck, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy
Denise Gray-Felder, Communication for Social Change Consortium
Geoffrey Knox, Geoffrey Knox & Associates
Sandra Lamb, Lamb Advisors
Sr. Paulette LoMonaco, Good Shepherd Services
Lillian Rodríguez-López, Hispanic Federation
Mary McCormick, Fund for the City of New York
Yvonne Moore, Daphne Foundation
Ana Oliveira, New York Women’s Foundation
Michael Park, Robin Hood Foundation
Suvasini Patel, WITNESS
Hilda Polanco, Fiscal Management Associates
Hildy Simmons, Philanthropic Advisory Services
David Terrio, BTQ Financial

2007 Winners
Good Shepherd Services, recognized for Overall Management Excellence; a cash award of $25,000 and a scholarship to the Columbia Business School Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.
Center for Urban Community Services, honored for Excellence in Sustained Impact; $5,000 cash award.
Families United for Racial and Economic Equality, awarded for Excellence in Meeting Emerging Issues; $5,000 cash award.
WITNESS, for Excellence in Communications; $5,000 cash award.