(WASHINGTON, April 25, 2012)—Independent Sector and American Express announce open nominations for the American Express NGen Leadership Award honoring a nonprofit professional age 40 or under who has demonstrated transformative impact addressing society’s critical needs.
In recognizing the individual’s contributions, this award also highlights the talents and achievements of young leaders in communities, organizations, and the sector at large. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, May 18. Self-nomination is not permitted.
Past recipients of the award are Darell Hammond, co-founder and CEO of KaBOOM!, and Ai-jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
"The last two American Express NGen Leadership Award recipients have exemplified the promise and impact of today’s emerging nonprofit leaders," said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector. "Each year, a diverse set of nominees show us how their passion and innovation make a difference. We hope this award continues to inspire young leaders to reach their potential and leaves a lasting legacy for the nonprofit and philanthropic sector."
This award extends Independent Sector’s commitment to and support of emerging leaders. Among IS signature programs is NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now, a special series of leadership development and networking sessions for nonprofit professionals under 40 that takes place at Independent Sector’s Annual Conference.
NGen also includes the American Express NGen Fellows program, which provides an accomplished and diverse group of 12 emerging leaders with exceptional opportunities to hone their leadership skills, strengthen their professional networks, and develop a collaborative project focused on issues important to young leaders.
"American Express believes it is important to nurture, develop and recognize leaders who create positive transformative impact on their organizations and society," said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. "We believe the American Express NGen Leadership Award does just that."
Nominations can be made at: IndependentSector.org/ngen_leadership_award
To be eligible for the award, the nonprofit professional must:
- Demonstrate transformative impact in their field, beyond just their organization
- Display a proven ability to collaborate in innovative, inclusive ways
- Show how they identify needs, generates solutions and assesses progress toward goals
- Model leadership presence
- Be currently employed by a U.S.-based nonprofit or non-governmental organization
- Be age 40 or under at the time of receiving the award
Five finalists will be asked to apply for the award by submitting answers to brief questions and participating in a telephone interview with the selection committee. This information will serve as the basis for the committee's final selection.
The finalists will be featured in a virtual Leadership Forum with the NGen community to discuss issues important to young leaders and the nonprofit community as a whole.
The recipient of the American Express NGen Leadership Award will be announced in late July, and will be recognized during the Independent Sector Annual Conference in San Francisco, November 11-12.
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Independent Sector is a leadership network of 600 nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good. Our nonpartisan coalition leads, strengthens, and mobilizes the sector; we advocate for public policies that fortify our communities; and we create unparalleled resources so staff, boards, and volunteers can further their missions and increase their impact. IndependentSector.org.
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, twitter.com/americanexpress and youtube.com/americanexpress.
