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Award
Criteria
In each category, nominated and applying organizations should
meet the specified criteria. Organizations nominated in more
than one category must complete a nomination for each category
and must meet the specific criteria for each
award.
For each of the awards, the
following criteria apply:
- The achievements of the organization must be
relevant (i.e. should have taken place within approximately
the last 12-18 months).
- Nominated organizations must be based in Minnesota, even if
their work serves populations outside of Minnesota.
- Organizations
nominated must be a nonprofit organization. Programs of
nonprofits, unincorporated nonprofits and coalitions of
nonprofits may apply for the Nonprofit Mission Awards,
but are ineligible for the Excellence Awards. Government
entities, business entities and individuals are not eligible
to apply.
- Organizations may be nominated in more than one award
category, but must submit a separate nomination for each
category, and must answer the criteria specific to each award.
- Organizations may self
nominate or apply on their own behalf. Organizations may
be nominated by others for Nonprofit Mission Awards for
Innovation, Anti-racism Initiative, Advocacy and Responsive
Philanthropy. Organizations must apply on their behalf for
Nonprofit Excellence Awards.
- The committee
will base its decisions on the information provided.
- Supplementary material is discouraged and will not be
returned.
- Three references
are required for the Nonprofit Mission Awards. References
could include board members, funders, community partners
or other stakeholders, but are preferably not be staff
members of the nominated organization. Please alert your
references that they may be contacted by the Mission Award
Selection Committee for more information.
The
selection process for the 2009 Nonprofit Awards has concluded.
Stay tuned for details about the nominations process for
the 2010 Nonprofit Awards.
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Nonprofit Mission
Award for Innovation Criteria:
This award recognizes creative applications and
nontraditional approaches to solving community challenges.
Nominated organizations should:
- Bring creative solutions
to community challenges;
- Employ a variety
of strategies in developing these solutions; and
- Collaborate with
other nonprofit organizations, businesses and
governmental agencies in their efforts.
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Nonprofit Mission
Award for Anti-Racism Initiative Criteria:
The Anti-Racism Initiative Award recognizes an organization
that actively engages audiences in anti-racism activities.
Nominated organizations should:
- Work to eliminate
prejudice and racism in society;
- Demonstrate a commitment
to pluralism and inclusively; and
- Develop unique and
thought-provoking strategies to combat racism.
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Nonprofit Mission
Award for Advocacy Criteria:
This award recognizes advocacy as one of the most
effective and unique roles of nonprofit organizations.
Nominated organizations should:
- Implement an effective
advocacy strategy;
- Demonstrate success
in its advocacy efforts; and
- Have a significant
impact on the organization's constituency.
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Nonprofit Mission
Award for Responsive Philanthropy Criteria:
This award recognizes the partnership
between funders and nonprofits in mobilizing resources
for public benefit. Nominated organizations should:
- Be responsive to
citizen initiatives;
- Recognize public
policy issues and long-term strategies to fight
problems; and
- Commit substantial
resources to disadvantaged people and Minnesota
communities through a process of dialogue and
partnership.
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Nonprofit Excellence
Awards for Large and Small Organization Criteria:
The Excellence Awards are based upon MCN's Principles
and Practices for Nonprofit Exellence.
Applicants
must be a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) organization,
at least five years old and have a local governance
and management structure in place. Board involvement
in the application is required. To apply, applicants
must submit:
- A completed Principles
& Practices for Nonprofit Excellence Self
Assessment
- A two-page narrative
about noteworthy achievements related to each
of the ten Principles
- Verification that
your nonprofit board chair and the majority of
your board members have reviewed the Principles
and Practices and have reviewed and verified the
accuracy of the narrative
- A copy of your audited
financial statements for the most recent year
available
- A list of board
members, with affiliations, addresses and phone
numbers
- A copy of your organization's
501(c)(3) verification
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