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2008 Award Winners

Alliance Insights

2008 August

2008 Best Practices Award Winners

Each spring, the Alliance for Nonprofit Management asks its members to nominate leaders in the Nonprofit Sector who have distinguished themselves in the capacity-building profession by demonstrating best practices. After careful consideration of the nominees by the Awards Committee, winners are announced at the Annual Conference.

This year’s award ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan, on July 10th with emcee Mike Woolfolk of WACH Fox News at Ten in Columbia, SC. Six individuals were recognized for their contributions to the Sector and the advancement of capacity building.

The award winners were Shiree Teng of Teng and Associations for Capacity Builder Award; Aaron Hurst of Taproot Foundation for the Innovator Award; Ruth McCambridge of The Nonprofit Quarterly for the Lifetime Achievement Award; Brigette Rouson of Mosaica for the Executive Director’s Award and Natalie Abatemarco of Citi Foundation for the Chairman’s Award.

The Terry McAdam Book Award, sponsored by The New York Community Trust and The Chronicle of Philanthropy was revealed during the ceremony. The 2008 winner was presented to “Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit,” by Peter Brinckerhoff, published by Fieldstone Alliance. Honorable Mention given to “Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofit,” by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant, published by Jossey-Bass.

About the Winners

The Capacity Builder Award is given each year to an individual who demonstrates “best practices” and thereby increases the effectiveness of the organizations “that help nonprofits build their power and impact.” This year, Shiree Teng of Teng and Associates, was honored for her work in the field. Her philosophy on capacity building is that it should not just be a technical assistant or an intervention, but rather a tool to build long lasting social change and impacts.

Aaron Hurst, President and Founder of Taproot Foundation, was honored with the Innovator Award, which recognizes individuals who bring new approaches or strategies to the capacity building field. Hurst recognized that one of the leading obstacles for nonprofits was raising money for capacity building projects and programs. Recognizing the need to help strengthen the capacity of nonprofits, he reached out to individuals with the technical skills and asked for their help in providing pro-bono and volunteer services to nonprofits. Through his work and the creation of the Taproot Foundation, Hurst shepherded in a new phase of nonprofit growth, one that is not dependent on the government or funders, but one where human capital can be used to create sustainability.

With more than 30 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Ruth McCambridge was honored for her contributions to the advancement and development of the Sector with the Lifetime Achievement Award. As the Editor-in-Chief of The Nonprofit Quarterly, she has created a premiere and cutting-edge nonprofit publication that brings new research, stimulates thinking and builds capacity across the Sector. Prior to her work at the Quarterly, McCambridge was instrumental in the designing of a capacity building model that has now been adopted as a national standard, through her work with nonprofits in the greater Boston Metropolitan region. Additionally, McCambridge is an active member of the Alliance’s Governance Affinity Group, which works to develop new ideas and models of nonprofit governance.

Natalie Abatemarco of Citi, was honored by the Board Chairman Omowale Satterwhite, who presented her with the Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is chosen by the current Board Chair and may be presented to an individual the Chairman feels has made a generous contribution to the advancement of the Alliance or the Sector. Abatemarco was chosen for this award for her dedication and guidance throughout her time as Alliance Board Chair and then as Immediate Past Chair.

Each year, the Alliance Executive Director has the opportunity to choose an individual to honor with the Executive Director’s Award. This year’s recipient was Brigette Rouson of Mosaica. The award is given to the individual or organization that freely gives of their time, talent and resources to help build the Alliance’s capacity at the ground level. Brigette has consistently demonstrated the passion and expertise that is vital when helping to increase the impact of the organizations she works with.

As a former Alliance staff member, Brigette continues to offer advice and counsel to the staff on a variety of issues, including the Cultural Competency Institute, a program that she helped to develop.