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Washington Post Award

2009 Recipient of the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management

Doorways, Arlington’s leading provider and advocate for survivors of homelessness, violence and abuse was honored on June 15th by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement as the 2009 winner of The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

Recognizing Excellence in Management

This award recognizes the outstanding management practices Doorways utilizes. Below are a few of the many best practices Doorways succeeds in:

Written plans/policies in place for all areas of agency operations. A centralized process for updating manuals that supports multi-site culture including work plans for every project.  Strategies for turning in-kind donations into cash donations.  Stewarding corporate donors from single donors to yearlong Corporate Ambassadors.  Strategic investments in fundraising infrastructure to maintain return on investment for each development position.  Reflective supervision philosophy; train staff to give and receive.  Strong structure and systems to support 100+ volunteers; “standing room only” information nights.  Staff holds a strong passion for mission, a commitment to teamwork, and a high staff satisfaction.  Making the distinction between community education and making the “ask”.  Provides incentives for green ways of commuting.  Strong practices for controlling risk; business continuity plain in place.

Supporting Documents

View the Doorways Award Application.

View Congressman Moran’s Statement in the Congressional Record.

Congratulated by the Clarendon Alliance and Liberty Tavern.

From Our Leadership

Linda Dunphy, Doorways Executive Director “Every day, our staff strives for excellence in all we do, as we manage our current programs and the needs of our clients as well as develop new services, all while raising funds in this new economic environment and winning this award certainly validates our efforts and abilities.”

Nicholas Evans, Doorways Board President “Doorways strived for several years to achieve excellence in our management practices, and so it’s rewarding to say the least for our staff and board to win this prestigious management award, particularly on our first attempt.”

Susan Sanow, Deputy Executive Director at The Center for Non-Profit Advancement “As nonprofits become more challenged in this economic climate, it is reassuring to know that good nonprofit management makes a difference. We are pleased to acknowledge Doorways as a stellar example that other organizations should follow.”

The Award

Now in its 15th year, The Washington Post Award is a competitive program open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the Washington metropolitan area. Candidates are judged in the areas of fiscal management, information and communication, organizational development, people development, planning, resource development, risk management, and use of technology. The award is sponsored by The Washington Post Company, with additional support from RAFFA, The Center for Nonprofit Advancement Benefits Trust and Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership. In addition to this prestigious honor, Doorways will receive a $10,000 cash grant and a scholarship to attend the Georgetown Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership’s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program.