Each day this week on our blog we are highlighting a finalist for The Washington Post 2010 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. 

Meet Post Award Finalist PHILLIPS Programs for Children & Families

PHILLIPS Programs for Children & Families serves the needs of individuals with emotional and behavioral problems and their families throughout Greater Washington. PHILLIPS provides educational services and therapeutic foster homes for children and youth with special needs and intensive in-home support and counseling for families with a child or children having special needs. PHILLIPS has a staff of 218 full-time and 18 part-time employees and engages more than 90 volunteers annually. The organization’s budget is approximately $18 million.

Q & A with Post Award Finalist PHILLIPS Programs for Children & Families

1. What does this award mean for you and your organization?
   
   The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management is an affirmation of the successful way in which PHILLIPS has approached the fulfillment of our mission.  The award itself will enable us to advance our mission through the attention and publicity we will receive in the larger community. It will assist us in expanding our base of support, which is one of our strategic goals.
   
    
2. What have you learned through the application process for The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management?
   
   The application process helped us to turn an eye inward and examine the processes most linked with our successful outcomes.  PHILLIPS has a strong tradition of evaluating program results as well as our procedures and practices.  It was a time-consuming and thought-provoking process, bringing board members and key staff together to reflect on our management and governance in a way that was separate from our programs and services – a unique and enlightening exercise!
   
    
3. What advice would you offer for other nonprofit leaders/organizations striving for excellence in nonprofit management?

• Manage out of an established set of values. Teach, demonstrate and live by these values in all realms of the organization – operations, finance, administration, service provision, development, and especially governance.
• Create and maintain a culture of respect, compassion and belief in the potential of every staff and client.
• Use data to make decisions.
• Hire exceptional managers with diverse skills and personalities. Empower and support them to operate interdependently toward common organizational goals. Emphasize processes and systems to achieve sustainable and successful outcomes.

Learn more about PHILLIPS Programs for Children & Families.

Watch the finalist video produced by Re:Act Media.