University of San Diego’s 6th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium
The 4th Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance Application Materials and Instructions 2010 1
Like a kaleidoscope, the work of nonprofit governance is intricate, varied, and involves viewing the organization through a variety of lenses. Exceptional governance requires precision, imagination, and principled and adept decision-making. Its’ practitioners are dedicated volunteers who contribute valuable services to our community. The University of San Diego’s Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium is accepting nominations for the fourth Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance. The mission of the Fourth Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance is to recognize, celebrate, promote and inspire excellence in nonprofit governance. Past award winners include: Casa de Amparo (2007) Home of Guiding Hands (2007) San Diego Jewish Community Foundation (2007) Chicano Federation of San Diego, Inc. (2008) San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care (2008) San Diego Jewish Academy (2009) Volunteers of America of Southwest California (2009)
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4th Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance Application Instructions Please include the application cover sheet and attach a narrative of no more than three pages (12-point font, 1 inch margins) that addresses the attached nomination criteria. Include specific detail for each numbered item, including information focusing on the past 2-3 years. All major criteria must be addressed. A full organizational mission statement may be attached to the proposal if it does not fit on the nomination form. No other attachments are permitted. Nomination forms must be received by Friday, October 30, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Finalists will be notified during the first week of November. All applicants should hold the date of November 12th for interviews at the University of San Diego. Site visits will be conducted in the case of a tie. Organizations should indicate their intent to apply for the award by Monday, October 12th to lbstein@sandiego.edu Mail or deliver one original and FIVE copies of the nomination form, narrative and a complete list of the organization’s current Board of Directors (with names, titles and addresses) to: Liz Shear University of San Diego Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research, SOLES 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, California 92110 Please submit one copy of the organization’s audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year (if unavailable, please submit the last year-end income and expense statement signed by your treasurer.) Nominations may be submitted by an organization or an individual. Nominees must represent a regional 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization based in and primarily serving the County of San Diego. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Finalists will be interviewed on Thursday, November 12, 2009 AT USD. Finalists will also be asked to submit additional information: • Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws • Board committee and board member job descriptions • Governing Policy Manual Table of Contents • An example of board meeting minutes • Current strategic and board development plans
Award decisions will be made by the Kaleidoscope Award committee. This year’s committee is comprised of the following people: Mary McDonald, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of San Diego Janine Mason, Executive Director, Fieldstone Foundation; Founder of Kaleidoscope Award Edith Glassey, M.A., Development Director, Promises2Kids Don Stump, M.A., Executive Director, North County Lifeline Liz Shear, M.A., Director, Nonprofit Governance Symposium Paul Van Dolah, President, Van Dolah and Associates
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The award winner will receive a $500 cash award in recognition of their leadership, service and accomplishments. The award will be presented at the 6th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium on Friday, January 8, 2010. The winner will also be asked to participate in a short panel discussion at that time. The nomination form, instructions, award criteria and additional information are available at: http://www.sandiego.edu/soles/centers/nonprofit/symposium.php or by email at lbstein@sandiego.edu or you may call (619) 260-7442.
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4th Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance University of San Diego’s 6th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium
Award Nomination Form: Due Friday, October 30, 2009 Intent to apply requested by October 12, 2009.
Organization: Street Address: Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Website:
Board President/Chair: Executive Director: 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization? Yes ____ No ____
Date Incorporated:
Current year budget: Number of Board Members: Organization’s Mission:
Nomination Submitted By: Signature: _________________________________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________ Email: _________________________
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4th Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance University of San Diego’s 6th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium
Section One: 1. How do you use your mission to advance your organization? 2. How do you ensure that you are in compliance with all appropriate laws and regulations that affect you? 3. How do you exercise due diligence that the organization is well managed, focused on stewardship and financially sound? 4. How do you engage in long term strategic planning? 5. How do you select, support and evaluate the executive director? 6. What level of board participation level and involvement in fundraising and other important governance functions? 7. What is your board development strategy? 8. How do you act as public ambassadors for your organization?
Section Two: Please provide a recent illustration or story that shows how your organization faced a challenge or opportunity and what role the board played in its resolution. The committee uses the kaleidoscope framework for exceptional governance adapted from Richard Chait, et al, Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards, as its basis for decision. The framework is summarized on the following page.
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Fiduciary Governance
Strategic Governance
Exceptional Governance Generative Governance
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Fiduciary governance is the stewardship of tangible assets. Its’ goals are to safeguard the mission, oversee operations and ensure accountability. The key question is “What is wrong/right?” The role is overseer or sentinel.
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Strategic governance is the creation and evaluation of organizational impact. The goals are to move the organization wisely into a preferred future, shaping the work to meet it and to offer technical assistance on the way. It focuses on analysis and synthesis of ideas into plans and the shaping of organizational direction. The key questions are, “What is your thinking about the future of this organization and what is the plan?” The role is strategist.
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Generative governance is making sense and meaning of the organizational environment, challenges and opportunities that underlie important decisions. The goals are to define the core problems, to discover what is important to the organization and to make sense of it all. It focuses on making sense of values, assumptions, insights, culture and judgments about the organization's past and present circumstances. The key question is “What is the right question?” The role is reflective learner or sense maker.
Section Three (pertains to finalists): Finalists will be interviewed on Thursday, November 12, 2009 Finalists will also be asked to submit additional information: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws Board committee and board member job descriptions Governing Policy Manual Table of Contents An example of board meeting minutes Current strategic and board development plans
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