Stettinius Awards for Nonprofit Leadership: How to Apply

OVERVIEW OF AWARDS PROGRAM 

The Stettinius Fund for Nonprofit Leadership will award cash grants of up to $10,000 to nonprofit professionals who have demonstrated the potential for strong transforming leadership.. Such leadership has three dimensions. In its broadest dimension, leadership by a group, it aims to create significant change in the lives of people and organizations. It brings people to a high level of morale and motivation and to greater expectations and aspirations about what can be done to develop the assets and address the needs of a community. The second dimension is organizational. Within a group strong transforming leadership respects each group member’s needs and contribution; stimulates the creativity and independent thinking of each group member; motivates others with a deep commitment to the purpose of the group; and influences others by their example and the respect and trust that it fosters. The third dimension of strong, transforming leadership is personal. It deals with the motivation to excel in efforts to meet the needs and develop the assets of a group or community. The Stettinius Award intends to assist three individuals develop their potential in all of several of these dimensions.

The award may be used to pursue professional development opportunities of the candidate’s own design, including executive seminars, advanced degree course work, best practice of applied research on-site practica, professional exchange programs and travel. Applicants must clearly explain how this award will help them realize their potential for strong, transforming leadership and to fulfill new roles or take on new responsibilities in the area’s nonprofit sector.

Applicants must be employed by a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serves the greater Richmond or Tri-Cities communities. The award may be used to pursue professional development opportunities of the candidate’s own design, including executive seminars, advanced degree course work, best practice or applied research, on-site practica, professional exchange programs and travel. 

The Community Foundation’s Selection Committee will seek to identify specific evidence of strong, transforming leadership potential from the applications and letters of support. The Committee seeks to identify people who have the potential and desire to take on greater responsibility and/or to be a catalyst for positive and interrelated change in their organization, nonprofit sector, and the community. The Committee seeks to help such people to develop that potential and desire. Applicants should demonstrate: (1) commitment to the nonprofit in the Greater Richmond area; (2) strong transforming leadership potential; (3) success in contributing to their own organizations; (4) imaginative plans for their professional development needs and potential; (5) innovative approaches to community and organizational challenges; and (6) a desire to serve broadly as an agent of change to meet community needs and challenges. 

 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • An applicant shall be a current employee of a locally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and have served a minimum of three years within the nonprofit sector in the metropolitan Richmond area (as defined by The Community Foundation service area). These three years of experience should show increased administrative responsibility and knowledge of specific issue area or community need.
  • Applicants may be employed by a national or regional nonprofit with responsibilities and operations in The Community Foundation’s service area.
  • Applicants from faith-based organizations, which are separately incorporated as a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities, are eligible provided the organization is primarily engaged in providing human services, educational programs, arts or other secular services to clients and communities on a nondiscriminatory basis.
  • Applicants whose primary responsibilities are related to religious or public sector (government) matters are ineligible.
     

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Evidence of past and present commitment to the nonprofit sector in the Greater Richmond area;
  • Evidence of the potential ability to build, influence and sustain relationships vital to the further success of their organization;
  • Evidence of an eagerness to learn the requisite skills to effectively lead and manage a nonprofit organization;
  • Evidence of an imaginative and relevant professional development plan;
  • Evidence of potential to emerge as a multidimensional, (community, organization and self) transforming leader;
  • Evidence of leadership capabilities and desire to develop the area’s nonprofit sector.
     

APPLICATION PROCESS

TCF invites nonprofit professionals to submit the Stettinius Award for Nonprofit Leadership application. All applications must include a resume and letter of support from a direct supervisor or the nonprofit’s board president. Support letters should include a discussion of how the professional development opportunity will help develop the candidate’s leadership potential.

Graduates of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, Emerging Nonprofit Leaders program are encouraged to apply as the next step in the region’s continuum of leadership development programs.

The completed application, current resume and supporting letters must be received by The Community Foundation on or before 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 15, 2013.  Applications and supporting letters sent electronically or by facsimile will not be considered.

Download 2013 application form 
 

SELECTION PROCESS

A selection panel will review the submitted applications and letters of support to identify a small group of candidates for interviews based on the selection criteria. Interviews are scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Candidates must be available on that date.

The Committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to The Community Foundation’s Board of Governors. The decisions of The Community Foundation are final.

Applications should be mailed to:

Stettinius Awards for Nonprofit Leadership
c/o The Community Foundation
7501 Boulders View Drive, Ste 110
Richmond, VA 23225

For directions to the Foundation’s offices, click here.