Sheltering Arms Named Finalist in The Community Foundation’s Annual Managing for Excellence Competition

(ATLANTA, November 2, 2007) -- Two Atlanta nonprofit organizations were honored for their managerial excellence at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta's 2007 Annual Meeting held at the Fox Theatre on November 2. The Atlanta Community Food Bank and Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers took top honors in the Foundation’s annual Managing for Excellence Awards competition. Sponsored by The Boston Consulting Group, the award was started in 1984 by The Community Foundation to encourage and reward more effective nonprofit management.

"The selection process is a very rigorous one and these organizations represent the best of the nonprofit sector.  Not only do they exemplify excellence in management and accomplishment, but they have a tremendous dedication to the improvement of the health and well-being of our citizens and our community," said Alicia Philipp, president of The Community Foundation.

Each year, award recipients are chosen based on a multi-phase selection process conducted by a committee of corporate and nonprofit management experts from various disciplines—finance, human resources, planning, leadership, resource development, etc. In phase one, each organization’s performance is measured against a matrix of quality management standards based on validated research. Detailed information is required on finances and on diversity at all levels of the organization, including clients, exempt and nonexempt staff, senior management, and volunteer leadership. Organizations invited to go on to phase two of the selection process submit more detailed information in essay form on how the organization excels in governance, fiscal management, planning and evaluation, resource development; marketing and communications, volunteer involvement, human resources, operations, community collaboration, and program management. Those organizations invited to participate in the final phase host an on-site review involving the selection committee and key staff and volunteers. The selection process not only recognizes management excellence among nonprofits, but it also serves as a comprehensive management assessment tool for board and senior staff.

Since the inception of the Managing for Excellence Award in 1984 more than 500 organizations have participated in the competition. The competition is open to organizations that have received at least one competitive grant from The Community Foundation in the past five years.

About The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta connects donors, nonprofits
and institutions to make philanthropy happen. We do this by working directly with donors and their families to discover their philanthropic passion; supporting nonprofits in our 23-county service area through grants and guidance; collaborating with community leaders and other partners to create innovative solutions to tough issues and building an endowment that will benefit our region today and for generations to come. Please visit our website at http://www.atlcf.org/ for more information.