DCA and Iowa Not for Profit Alliance launch award program
Application deadline for Iowa Nonprofit Excellence Awards Jan. 30
For Immediate Release January 9, 2009
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the Iowa Not for Profit Alliance today announced the launch of a new awards program that recognizes large and small nonprofit organizations for excellence.
The Iowa Nonprofit Excellence Awards is designed to showcase nonprofits that have combined strong management practices, ethical and accountable behavior, innovation resourcefulness and program accomplishments within their individual mission and focus. The most compelling applications will demonstrate how the organization combines these attributes to maximize effectiveness.
“We are very pleased to form this new partnership with the Iowa Not for Profit Alliance to recognize nonprofit organizations for the important work they do,” DCA Director Cyndi Pederson said. “We are extremely grateful to Christie Vilsack for providing funding for these awards through the Vilsack Foundation.”
Applications and supporting materials must be received by 4:30 p.m., Jan. 30, 2009, by the Iowa Not for Profit Alliance, P.O. Box 41157, Des Moines, Iowa 50311. Applications and information about eligibility, review criteria and selection process are available at www.infpa.org or www.culturalaffairs.org. Contact Nader Halawa at nader.halawa@embarkteam.com or 877-252-4443 x714 for more information.
Award recipients will be selected by an impartial volunteer panel of leading experts in nonprofits, business, government and organized philanthropy.
The awards carry cash prizes in a two-tiered structure to recognize the top candidates for both large and small organizations. Cash awards of $12,000 for large organizations and $8,000 for small organizations will be awarded. An additional award – a Horizon Award of $5,000 – will be given to one nonprofit that has operated in Iowa for less than five years.
In addition, Certificates of Excellence will be awarded for the top four areas of health, arts, human services and education organizations. Award recipients will be announced at the inaugural Iowa Not for Profit Alliance Conference Feb. 16-17, 2009, at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Des Moines.
The conference will offer a variety of workshops focused on best practices, cost-saving measures and a legislative update in addition to roundtable discussions, keynote speakers and breakout sessions geared for nonprofits.
More information about the conference, including registration materials, is available at www.infpa.org.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
