Recognizing public officials who champion the work of nonprofits
The Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award was named in honor of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s former director of advocacy and community relations after her untimely passing in 2003. The award was created to highlight the work of elected and non-elected officials who have gone above and beyond in partnership with the nonprofit sector to ensure more vibrant communities.
Each year, the Center honors four public officials with this award. One official is recognized from each of the jurisdictions the Center supports including, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
Calling for 2026 Nominations!
Please complete this brief nomination form for any public official that has stood out in this previous year. Deadline to nominate is Friday, August 28.
Each year, the call for Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award nominees opens in June. Members of the nonprofit sector are invited to nominate public officials who have shown great leadership on behalf of the nonprofits in our region, by completing a brief nomination form that includes up to 250 words about why the nominee deserves the award.
After the deadline, nominations are tallied and the winners of each jurisdiction are notified. They receive their award and recognition at the Center’s Annual Celebration.
Meet the winners of the past five years:
District of Columbia
- Betsy Cavendish, General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor (2025)
- Zachary Parker, DC Councilmember, Ward 5 (2024)
- Janeese Lewis George, DC Councilmember, Ward 4 (2023)
- Trayon White, DC Councilmember, Ward 8 (2022)
- Brianne Nadeau, DC Councilmember, Ward 1 (2021)
- Laura Zeilinger, Director, DC Department of Human Services (2020)
Montgomery County, Maryland
- Marilyn Balcombe, Montgomery County Councilmember, District 2 (2025)
- Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Montgomery County Councilmember, District 6 (2024)
- Gabe Albornoz, Montgomery County Councilmember, At-Large (2023)
- Evan Glass, Montgomery County Councilmember, At-Large (2022)
- Will Jawando, Montgomery County Councilmember, At-Large(2021)
- Lily Qi, Maryland State Delegate, District 15 (2020)
Prince George's County, Maryland
- Edward Burroughs, III, Chair, Prince George's County Council (2025)
- Emmett V. Jordan, Mayor, City of Greenbelt (2024)
- Aisha Braveboy, State Attorney, Prince George's County (2023)
- David Harrington (2022)
- Angela Alsobrooks, County Executive, Prince George’s County (2021)
- Rodney Streeter, Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair, District 7 (2020)
Virginia
- Anita Friedman, Director. Department of Human Services, Arlington County (2025)
- Catherine S. Read, Mayor, City of Fairfax (2024)
- Karla Bruce, Chief Equity Officer, Fairfax County (2023)
- Alyia Gaskins, Alexandria City Councilwoman (2022)
- Onassis Burress, City Council Member, Radford City (2021)
- Justin Wilson, Mayor of Alexandria, VA (2020)