Recognizing outstanding nonprofit leaders
Learn from the experience of our winners!
The annual EXCEL Award not only recognizes outstanding nonprofit leadership in our region, but also provides an opportunity for all of us to learn from authentic paths toward excellence. The Center has produced a series of video shorts touching on three key issues identified in this year’s competition. Each video stars one of this year's finalists, with each leader sharing their successful experience in a relevant area of achievement.
Hosted by Sean Sweeney, the Center's Director of Operations, the videos also include guest appearances from Leslie Zeid, representing GRF CPAs & Advisors, our EXCEL Award Sponsor.
First release: Reinventing and Staying Relevant
Cast: Brian Hujdich, HealthHIV
Guest appearance: Leslie Zeid, Selection Committee Member participating from our Award Sponsor, GRF CPAs & Advisors.
When an organization has been around for a while, it runs the risk of resting on its laurels and doing the same things year after year. HealthHIV has time and again added or changed programming and services to make sure it is growing and changing along with its clients and new emerging trends in the field. In this video, we’ll talk to Brian Hujdich about the many ways in which his organization has managed to not only stay relevant, but also get out ahead and become a thought leader.
Second release: A Graceful Entrance as a New Leader
Cast: Aisha Bond, Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce
Guest appearance: Leslie Zeid, Selection Committee Member participating from our Award Sponsor, GRF CPAs & Advisors.
Coming into a pre-existing organization as a new leader can be like navigating a minefield. Learn from Aisha Bond about how she entered her organization with a vision and actualized on it, all while being sensitive to pre-existing norms and expectations, and practicing a “graceful sternness” to make sure stakeholders were buying in.
Third release: Policy Advocacy and Nonprofit Branding
Cast: Melodie Narrain-Blackwell, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses
Guest appearance: Leslie Zeid, Selection Committee Member participating from our Award Sponsor, GRF CPAs & Advisors.
Policy Advocacy goes hand in hand with programming and services that some nonprofits provide. In this video, we talk with 2025 EXCEL Award Winner Melodie Narain-Blackwell about her organization’s work with people who have gastrointestinal illnesses, about how she centers not just care, but policy advocacy to advance her cause. We discuss the work involved in making yourself a trusted source on a given issue, and then how to market yourself as such.
Congratulations to the 2025 Award Winner:
Melodie Narain-Blackwell, President, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc.
Melodie Blackwell founded Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc. as a nonprofit dedicated to health equity and BIPOC communities that are challenged with digestive diseases and chronic illnesses. A native Washingtonian, she draws on her early exposure to family-owned businesses and her faith to guide her work. Passionate about entrepreneurship, advocacy, and mentoring, Melodie uses biblical principles to help others build strong foundations for their businesses while also championing awareness for those living with chronic illness.
And we'd like to congratulate our honorable mentions:
Aisha Bond, President/CEO, Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce
Brian Hujdich, Executive Director, HealthHIV
Click on their names to learn more about these individuals! Thank you to our sponsor, GRF CPAs & Advisors, and selection committee for their continued time and efforts.
Awarded by the Center since 2005 and sponsored by GRF CPAs & Advisors since 2007, the EXCEL Award honors exceptional nonprofit chief executives in our region. This year's competition will place a special emphasis on innovation in leadership, recognizing achievement in the areas of motivation, community building, ethical integrity and strategic leadership.
Nominations can be made by board members, staff members, volunteers, clients or community members, and can be made with or without the candidate’s knowledge.
One nominee is selected as the EXCEL winner and is given access to a $10,000 professional development account. The winner’s organization receives a $2,000 cash award to support professional development programs for its staff.
Up to two nominees may be selected as honorable mention recipients. Each of their organizations receives a $3,000 award to support professional development programs for the candidate and/or staff.
If you have any questions about the process, please email seans@nonprofitadvancement.org.