Nonprofit Excellence Awards Insights From DREAM

November 18th, 2020
Nonprofit Excellence Awards Insights From DREAM

Nonprofits that work tirelessly to implement innovative systems and management practices deserve to be recognized by their peers. Through the Nonprofit Excellence Awards, we shine a spotlight on exceptional nonprofits that stand out in our Key Areas of Nonprofit Excellence. The awards are an opportunity for all of us to learn from — and aspire to — their best practices.

We heard from Brenda Scanzillo, Senior Manager of Development and Institutional Giving at DREAM, about her organization’s experience with the Awards. DREAM formerly Harlem RBI - uses the power of teams to inspire youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams, and is this year’s Special Recognition recipient for Technology and Data Use.

Tell me about why your organization applied for the Nonprofit Excellence Awards program and about your history with applying:

DREAM applied for the Nonprofit Excellence Awards in 2012 and was named a semifinalist. The organization re-applied this year because it has grown significantly since then, including winning two charters, opening a high school and new K-8 school in the South Bronx, and streamlining in-school and out-of-school programming. Based on DREAM's new model and expansion, the organization believed it would be competitive in the Awards program.

Can you tell me what it means for your organization to be recognized by this Awards program?

DREAM is humbled and honored to be recognized by the Awards program. This recognition symbolizes the magnitude of the organization's impact and its commitment to the thousands of youth it serves across New York City.

Why should other organizations apply for the Awards program?

Applying for the Awards program was a tremendous learning experience. We collected data that we wouldn't ordinarily collect and were forced to think creatively about how we have grown and how we can best represent ourselves to an external audience. Others should apply to reflect on their strengths and growth areas.

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To learn more from the Nonprofit Excellence Awards Winners and Special Recognition recipients, join us on December 7th and 8th at the 2020 Best Nonprofit Conference: Relentlessly Resilient.

Register For the Conference