Each day this week on our blog we are highlighting a finalist for The Washington Post 2011 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

Meet Post Award Finalist Prince George’s Child Resource Center, Inc.

Prince George’s Child Resource Center helps create healthy and nurturing environments for children by supporting their parents and educating their caregivers. In a diverse county that is home to many single-parent and low-income families, struggling new immigrants and working families of all races, the Resource Center strives to meet their differing needs. A dedicated staff of 30 with support from 50 volunteers works to provide services through their office in Largo and family support center in Adelphi. The organization’s budget size is approximately $2.3 million.

Q & A with Post Award Finalist Prince George’s Child Resource Center, Inc.

What does this award mean for you and your organization?

This award – and even making it to the top five – validates the path that management has chosen. From the Board, to staff leadership, to frontline staff, we are very proud of what we do through our programs. Being recognized for management adds a new level of pride. We have invited all of you in to see the inner-workings of our organization, and you have affirmed our efforts. It is especially rewarding in the midst of challenging times in the nonprofit world.

What have you learned through the application process for The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management?

This is our third application. In our second application, we made it to round two; now we have made it to the finals. Each year, and within each round, there has been more involvement and ownership by Board and staff, and our Board in particular is more impressed and proud than ever to be governing our organization. The process itself informs our goals for the future, because even as we write out our answers, we are able to identify ways to improve. We have learned from other organizations. In fact, when we were told about the other finalists, the executive director visited the website of Horton’s Kids because they are new to us. Already we have a take-away from their volunteer program that we would like to emulate on our website.

What advice would you offer for other nonprofit leaders/organizations striving for excellence in nonprofit management?

Take advantage of every opportunity to improve the infrastructure of the organization!

“No money” or “too busy meeting needs in the community” is no excuse. As small nonprofit grows larger, the tendency is to be very program-oriented and to focus on expanding services while ignoring internal infrastructure. The result is often a burned out staff, and ultimately, less efficient programs.

The Resource Center fell into this trap early on, but made great strides over the last ten years. We can look back on our journey, and identify exactly what steps have made the difference. These include:

• Our first strategic planning process in 2001; we are currently implementing our second organizational strategic plan.
• Pursuing, receiving and maintaining the Standards for Excellence accreditation from Maryland Nonprofits.
• Seeking capacity-building grants: because we have demonstrated that we are excellent stewards of capacity building funds, we have received six grants in the past ten years, including three through the Meyer Foundation’s Management Assistance Program. We meet the goals of these grants while not over promising or setting unrealistic expectations for funders, board and staff members.

Program staff is involved in capacity building efforts, ensuring that each person understands the organization as a whole, not just his or her program/role. This, combined with a culture of transparency, a willingness to grow and change, and a spirit of collaboration, is why the Resource Center has weathered the current economic challenges as well as we have. Every nonprofit must pay attention to management and infrastructure in good times and bad.

Learn more about Prince George’s Child Resource Center, Inc.

• Website
• Facebook

Register Now for the Best Practices Celebration on Wednesday, May 25 at The Washington Post.

Learn more about the Award.