On the Rise: An Award for Emerging Nonprofit Organizations

Download the 2012 Excellent Emerging Organization Award application.

A Portrait of an Excellent Emerging Organization

For this award, an Excellent Emerging Organization is a young organization whose potential for growth and impact is high. The organization demonstrates that it is capable of leadership within its subsector, as well as innovation in its programs and service delivery. While young and small, the organization practices financial stability, sound management, and visions and plans for its future success.

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. Applicant must also meet the following requirements:

• Organization has been in existence for 10 years or less
• Organization budget must not exceed $750,000
• Organization must have 10 or less full time staff members

Award Benefits

The winning organization will be announced at the Axelson Symposium luncheon on June 5, 2012. The award aims to strengthen the capacity of the winning organization to improve services and efficiency. The organization will be awarded a capacity building package, valued at approximately $50,000. The package could include services such as*: 

• $1,000 in professional development programs from the Axelson Center;
• 1 year mentoring by a senior nonprofit leader;
• A professional attorney will evaluate the organization's internal operations, alerting management to any potential legal or regulatory issues; A team of highly-experienced consultants will provide a wide-ranging, in-depth organizational assessment to identify key strengths and opportunities, and then develop a strategically-focused capacity-building plan for capitalizing on them and ensuring ongoing progress;
• An unrestricted grant of $2,500.
  *The complete award package will be posted on our website by January 31st.
  

A Call for Nominations

Contact Tracey Starkovich by email or by phone at (773) 244-5799 to nominate an organization for this award. Organizations do not need to be nominated in order to apply, but members of the community are welcome to nominate organizations that they know. If you do nominate an organization, please include a contact person, their email and phone number so that we may contact them to complete the application.

Application and Review Process

1. Complete and mail/email the initial application (postmarked no later than February 15, 2012). Include a copy of your 501(c)(3) letter. Electronic files are preferred.
2. The initial applications will be reviewed and 3-5 organizations will be chosen to complete an interview with the review committee. The qualifying organizations will be notified no later than March 5th.
3. These organizations will schedule interviews with the committee between March 5th and early April.
4. All qualifying organizations will receive special recognition at the Symposium luncheon on June 5, 2012.

The first round of evaluations will take place between February 15th and March 5th by a review committee, who will then nominate 3-5 organizations to be considered for the final round. The second round will incorporate interviews with the leadership of the organization between March 5th and early April. The quality and completeness of the application is essential as it will serve as the primary basis for assessment. In this regard, all questions should be answered directly and explicitly; generic responses are not acceptable. Incomplete applications—including indirectly addressed criteria—or omitted financial data will limit our ability to assess your organization and ultimately will prevent your organization from being considered.