The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University presented the fourth annual Alford-Axelson Awards for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and Gads Hill Center at its recent symposium. More than 700 nonprofit professionals (a record-setting crowd) were in attendance at the symposium, which explored Nonprofits and Marketing.
The Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence was established in 2001 in honor of Jimmie R. Alford and Nils Axelson as a tribute to their lifelong commitment to creating and sustaining excellent, mission-driven nonprofit organizations. A committee comprised of Chicago-area nonprofit and corporate leaders selected this year’s winners from a pool of 40 nominees. Both organizations receive an unrestricted grant of $5,000, thanks to the generous support of BankOne Corporation and ShoreBank.
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls (mercyhome.org), this year's most managerially excellent nonprofit organization with an annual budget over $5 million, is a long-term residential home for troubled children between the ages of 11 and 21. Founded in 1887, this Catholic institution has served more than 22,000 children during its 118-year history. Its 14 homes offer each child the structure and independence to work through their problems and to achieve success, via round-the-clock care and support, therapy, tutoring and mentoring. Mercy Home is led by Father James Close, president and CEO, and Father Scott Donahue, associate president. Their Boys' Campus is located at 1140 W. Jackson Blvd, and their Girls' Campus is located at 11600 S. Longwood Dr.
Gads Hill Center (gadshillcenter.org), this year's most managerially excellent nonprofit organization with an annual budget under $5 million, is an award-winning, multi-service, family resource organization that has served Chicago's Pilsen, Little Village, and North Lawndale neighborhoods since 1898. Gads Hill provides services for children, teenagers and families to support and empower the economically and educationally challenged, and to combat poor literacy and language skills in the community, marginal employment capabilities - especially for an urban technological environment, and high school drop out rates that are approaching 65 percent. Gads Hill Center is located at 1919 W. Cullerton St., and the Gads Hill Child Development Center is at 2653 W. Ogden Ave.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to Women Employed and the Palliative Care Center & Hospice of the North Shore.
In reviewing the 40 nonprofit organizations that were nominated for this year's awards, North Park's selection committee considered to what extent each organization embodies and exhibits the following: clear, compelling, and well-communicated mission and vision; coherent organizational strategy that aligns programs and services to mission; strong and effective leadership by staff and board; solid financial management; diversified funding model; well-developed fundraising and external relations program; strong sense of integrity throughout organization's culture; and a shared sense of purpose
and values.
North Park University's Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, established in 1999, seeks to enhance the performance and effectiveness of organizations and individuals in the nonprofit sector. |
