Just Announced! 2017 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award Winners!

Mission, KS (April 6, 2017) — Support Kansas City (SKC), a local nonprofit that provides business and development support services to Greater Kansas City nonprofits has announced the winners of its prestigious “Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership” (ENLA) Awards. The 2017 awards were granted to Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City for an agency with a budget of $1 million or less, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, for an agency with a budget greater than $1 million, and The Family Conservancy for an agency with budget greater than $10 million. The 8th annual ENLA awards will be presented Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo. In addition, the event includes a Panel Discussion: Radical Conversations: Cultivating Common Ground, moderated by Beth Radtke, Vice President & Foundation Office Director, The Commerce Trust Company. Panelists include Jay Hardenbrook, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP; Barbara Bollier, Kansas State Senate; Gary Burton, partner, Burton & Liese Government Relations & former Missouri Representative; Ken Hussey, Director of Leadership and Civil Engagement, Missouri State Alliance of YMCA’s; and David Jordan, Executive Director, Alliance for Healthy Kansas. A networking and cocktail reception will conclude the event. For more information visit www.2017SKCENLA.eventbrite.com.

“Junior Achievement of Great Kansas City is humbled and honored to be selected by Support Kansas City for an Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award. Our mission of empowering the youth of today to own their future economic success remains vital to our remarkable community,” said Jeff Greig, Board Chair. “I want to congratulate our President, Megan Sturges, and our staff, Board, and hundreds of volunteers for their hard work and dedication to our organization. We very much value our partnership with Support Kansas City and appreciate their important contribution to our success.”

A national nonprofit founded nearly 70 years ago by former KC mayor, H. Roe Bartle, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is building a talent pipeline for the nonprofit sector by grooming and developing the next generation of nonprofit leaders. “The Alliance was built on the premise that a nonprofit’s most critical asset is its workforce – and that organizations can do more good when they have access to a talented and prepared workforce,” said Susan T. Schmidt, CNP, president of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. “Our staff and board are thrilled to be receiving this award. We would like to thank the selection committee for recognizing the hard work we have done to foster excellence throughout our organization.”

The Family Conservancy (TFC) empowers Kansas City to raise happy, healthy, educated children by supporting families, caregivers and teachers who prepare children for success in school and life. TFC has been serving the Greater Kansas City Metro – on both sides of the state line – since 1880, with a continuous commitment to serving families in poverty. “With thousands of nonprofits in Kansas City, it is certainly an honor to be recognized by Support Kansas City for this year’s Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award and to join the esteemed ranks of past honorees,” said Dean Olson, President and CEO. “Under the leadership of our board of directors, we’ve worked hard to maintain practices that ensure good stewardship of our donor investments, and allow our team to do the most good for the families we serve. Our staff is not alone in our work to serve at-risk families and children; it is our community partnerships, our volunteers and supporters, and our board of directors that help us to make an impact.”

“Given the truly exemplary number of nonprofits in Kansas City, our reviewers have a difficult time selecting our winners. These agencies are models of excellence and I know our entire community applauds them for their leadership,” said Debra Box, Executive Director of Support Kansas City. “Because of Kansas City’s philanthropic strength, our community is enriched by nonprofit work in all corners of our Metro area. This award should also shine a spotlight on the need for continued support and strengthening of our sector.”

The event also demonstrates the collaborative efforts among this sector through SKC ENLA partners that participate in the award application review process including: Greater Kansas City Local Investment Service Corp. (LISC), Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), UMKC Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, and event sponsors.