Social Entrepreneurship Award

Posted by on February 9, 2009

Manhattan Institute Invites Nominations for Social Entrepreneurship Award
Deadline: March 20, 2009

The Manhattan Institute (http://www.manhattan-institute.org/) Award for Social Entrepreneurship honors a nonprofit leader or organization that has found an innovative, private solution to a pressing social problem.

Any nonprofit organization that provides a direct service within the continental United States to address a public problem can be nominated. Examples of the types of organizations the program seeks to recognize include private social service groups that assist poor families with housing, health care, job training, and other similar needs; reformative organizations that help people cope with moral or psychological problems such as drug addiction or criminal behavior; education groups that use mentoring, counseling, or other afterschool programs to improve children’s educational achievement and possibilities; community groups  that improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods; and conservancies that use private donations from corporations or individuals to purchase land and preserve it from development.

Applicant organizations will be assessed according to various criteria, including the dynamism of their founding leader(s), vision, committed volunteers, creative and entrepreneurial ways of conceiving and meeting goals, significant private sector financial support, sustainability, clear and demonstrable results,  and commitment to sustaining the vitality of civil society.  Recognition is reserved for those organizations whose guiding purpose and function stem from private initiatives and ideas.  Accepting government funds does not, in itself, preclude consideration.

Individual charter or private schools and nonprofit organizations that engage in political advocacy or that bring legal actions or whose primary activities are in response to government requests for proposals are not eligible for this award.

Up to five awards of $25,000 each will be presented at the Social Entrepreneurship Awards Dinner in New York City. The Manhattan Institute also will award one $100,000 grand prize — the William E. Simon Award — in recognition of long-time achievement in Social Entrepreneurship.

Nominations may be submitted by anyone familiar with a person or group’s activities except a current employee of that person or group.

For complete program information and a nomination form, visit the Manhattan Institute Web site.

RFP Link: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15016681/manhattaninstitute

For additional RFPs in Philanthropy and Voluntarism, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_philanthropy.jhtml