Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence
2009 Application and Instructions
Please note that we have significantly changed the application length and process for your convenience.
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase and ShoreBank, is proud to present the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence. The purpose of this award program is to honor and continue the legacy of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community healthcare leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a contemporary leading thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena, by recognizing and celebrating Chicago area nonprofit organizations that exemplify extraordinary managerial excellence.
A Portrait of an Excellent Organization
We are seeking nominations of organizations that embody exemplary organizational management qualities such as those espoused by the award’s namesakes. Through practice and performance, these organizations exhibit such hallmarks of effective and excellent management as:
- Clear, compelling, and well-communicated, mission and vision
- Coherent organizational strategy that aligns programs and services to mission and goals
- Strong and effective leadership by staff and board
- Solid financial management
- Diversified funding model
- Well-developed fundraising and external relations program
- Strong sense of integrity throughout organization’s culture
- Shared sense of purpose and values within organization and among key external constituents
- Process in place for evaluating organizational performance
The Award
Each year, since the award was established in 2001, nonprofit and community leaders in the Chicago community award two $5,000 grants. One grant is reserved for a nonprofit organization with an annual budget under 3 million dollars and the other is for a nonprofit organization with a budget exceeding that amount. Organizations are selected on an annual basis by a nomination committee comprised of Chicago-area nonprofit and community leaders. The recipient organizations are recognized at the annual Symposium sponsored by The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago. The 2009 symposium is scheduled for May 13, 2009.
Eligibility
In order to be considered for the award, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) organization and its primary mission focus must benefit Chicago and/or its surrounding communities. Staff, board members, and volunteers may nominate their own organizations. Organizations that have received the honorable mention designation in previous year award programs are eligible to apply. In addition, the audited financial statements which are included with the application should demonstrate balanced budgets for two recent consecutive years.
A Call for Nominations
Contact Tracey Starkovich by email or by phone at (773) 244-5799 to nominate an organization for this award.
Registration to Apply and Updated Process
If you meet the eligibility requirements, we invite you to apply for this award. You may download the application and instructions at the top of this page. We have made revisions to the application process to reduce the amount of time required to apply.
Registration Process
- Complete and mail the initial application (postmarked no later than January 16, 2009). Include a copy of your 501(c)(3) letter.
- The initial applications will be reviewed and 10 organizations will be chosen to complete a more detailed application. The qualifying organizations will be notified no later than February 2, 2009.
- These organizations will have until March 20, 2009, to postmark the final application.
- All qualifying organizations will receive special recognition at the Symposium luncheon on May 13, 2009. The two winning organizations will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted grant.
Application Deadline
- The initial application must be postmarked by January 16 , 2009. Those organizations who are chosen for the second round of application will receive notification and the second application and instructions by February 2, 2009. The second round applications need to be postmarked by March 20, 2009.