Celebrate the efforts and contributions of your board

With support and input from area experts, the Center created this award in 2011 to recognize and spotlight outstanding leadership from nonprofit Boards of Directors in the Greater Washington area.

The award recognizes the role boards play in building and sustaining successful organizations. By executing their fiduciary and leadership responsibilities, board members ensure their organization is well led, well supported and responsive to the people and communities it serves.

The Center’s 2018 Board Leadership Award is presented by CohnReznick with additional support by ASAE and BoardSource.

2018 Board Leadership Award winners will be announced in July.

 

About the Board Leadership Award Competition

Why should I compete?

At the Center, we believe the benefits of competing are well worth your time and effort, but don’t take our word for it. Hear what past participants have to say.

“Putting this application together gave us a moment to reflect, appreciate, and recognize how robust our Board operations are now, the effort that went into getting to this place, what is still left to do, and - more specifically - what tasks the Board must undertake to continue its growth into the future. All of these practices documented in one place is a great resource for our current Board and will undoubtedly be extremely valuable to new Board members.” —DC Scores

“The Board Leadership Award provides recognition for the outstanding commitment, passion and leadership that the board members and staff have provided to the YWCA over the last few years. It has allowed the board and staff to better understand the requirements for successful board leadership, innovation and partnership and to see the important role they play in the sustainability of the organization.” —YWCA National Capital Area

"Having gone through the [award application] process, we have learned that we want this review to be part of the way we conduct business moving forward. In this way, review of our management processes now reflects the culture that the management team itself helped to create: one of transparency, openness to critique, and tireless dedication to continually improving. The Board Leadership Award will help our donors realize that their investment with A-SPAN is well-managed, and well-placed.” — Arlington Street People's Assistance Network

Who is eligible?
The competition is open to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Washington metropolitan area is defined as:
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland:Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, St. Mary's and Prince George's counties.
  • Virginia
Enter in one of two categories:
  • Annual budgets under $2 million
  • Annual budgets over $2 million
Two-thirds of the Board members must have served on the Board a minimum of one year as of the application due date. All examples and explanations used in the nomination must have occurred during the Executive Director or Board members’ tenure, and must not exceed five years. Internal nominations must be made in cooperation with the current Executive Director. External nominations must be made in cooperation with the Board Chair and the Executive Director.
What can my organization win?
One winner is selected from each of the two categories mentioned above. Winning organizations receive a $10,000 grant, community exposure and training opportunities for the organizations’ board and executives from ASAE, BoardSource and the Center’s Training Hub. Up to two organizations from each category are also selected as honorable mention recipients and receive communication exposure and training opportunities for their board members and executives from the Center’s Training Hub.
Is there a fee to apply?

Board Leadership Award application is free to Center members. The fee for nonmembers is $150.

How do I apply?

The competition incorporates a three-part judging process that includes a part one written application and fact sheet, an invitation-only part two interview, and site visits for finalists.

To learn more about the award process and application details download the Application Packet

Who has won in the past?
Meet the winners of the past three years:
What best practices and innovative solutions emerged this year?
As a Center member, you can access successful practices shared by Board Leadership competition participants in the Resource Center.
How can I join the selection committee?
The selection committee is a group of local leaders in the nonprofit, foundation, corporate and government sectors. The committee’s purpose is to read, review and evaluate all applications for the award. Commitment includes in-person attendance at a minimum of three committee meetings, two site visits and the award ceremony. Participation on the selection committee provides an excellent opportunity to make new connections and see first hand exceptional practices in action. To learn more or express interest in joining the selection committee, contact Taylor Strange, COO.

Thank you to our 2018 presenting sponsor:

Thank you for additional support:

ASAE  &  BoardSource

Thank you to our 2018 selection committee:

Tom Colling, Program Manager, Nonprofit Village
Rebecca Diamond, Vice President of Development & Membership, International Spy Museum
Lewis R. Flax, Founder and Principal, Flax Associates, LLC
Kathlyn Taylor Gaubatz, Nonprofit Management Consultant
Chip Lohmeyer, Board Member, DC SCORES
Marguerete Luter, President, The Process Pro, LLC
Larry Robertson, Vice President/Project Director, JBS International, Inc.
Margarita Rozenfeld, CEO, Incite International
Alexis S. Terry, Director, Diversity + Inclusion, ASAE
Kris Thompson, Executive Director, Calvary Women’s Services
Karen Williamson, KEW Consulting, LLC, YWCA Board Member
Anne E. Schrantz, Principal, CohnReznick
Justin Wood, Governance Program Manager, Board Source