Managing for Excellence Award

The true measure of a nonprofit organization's greatness is not determined by effective programming alone. In 1984, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta established the Managing for Excellence (MFE) Award to recognize nonprofit organizations that demonstrate outstanding managerial achievement and thoughtful planning. To date, nearly 500 organizations have participated in the competition.

Through this program, the Foundation seeks to stimulate dialogue amongst nonprofit staff and boards of directors, leading to an increased management capacity within the sector. Links to the guidelines and application materials can be found below.

Award Amounts:

Winner: $25,000 cash, a video highlighting the organization's excellence, and recognition at The Community Foundation's Annual Meeting of donors and area foundations.

Finalist(s) $5,000 cash and recognition at The Community Foundation's Annual Meeting of donors and area foundations.

2007 Recipients:

Winner - Atlanta Community Food Bank

Finalist - Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers

Upcoming orientation sessions:

Managing for Excellence staff will hold two public orientation sessions that offer an overview of Managing for Excellence, review eligibility requirements and discuss the application process as a whole, focusing on the qualifying round.  These sessions are free and scheduled for:
           
Thursday, February 21, 2008 (2:00-4:00pm) and Wednesday, March 12, 2008 (2:00-4:00pm)
Board Room, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta,
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 449, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

The qualifying application and attachments are due in The Community Foundation office before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

Download the 2008 materials

Managing for Excellence Organizational Self-Assessment

2008 Managing for Excellence Guidelines

2008 Qualifying Application

Contact

Kristina Morris, Program Associate, kmorris@atlcf.org or 404-688-5525 for information about the orientation sessions, the timeline, application materials, the MFE Organizational Self-assesment, to verify a competitive grant within the last 60 months or other questions about eligibility.

Phillip Rush, Program Officer, prush@atlcf.org or 404-688-5525 for information about organization readiness, competitiveness, the Review Committee or application strategy.