Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence
Large Nonprofit Award Winners
2023 – Girls on the Run – Chicago
2022 – Chinese American Service League
2020 – New Moms*
2019 – Bridge Communities*
2018 – The People’s Music School*
2016 – Christopher House*
2015 – Accion Chicago*
2014 – Chicago Community Loan Fund
2013 – Concordia Place
2012 – Center on Halsted
2011 – Children’s Home and Aid
2010 – Erie Family Health Center
2009 – Community Health
2008 – Chicago House & Social Service Agency
2007 – Metropolitan Family Services
2006 – Trinity Services, Inc.
2005 – Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
2004 – Seguin Services, Inc.
2003 – John G. Shedd Aquarium
2002 – The Greater Chicago Food Depository
Large Nonprofit Honorable Mentions
2022 – Girls on the Run
2019 – Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center*
2018 – Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and Mikva Challenge*
2016 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra*
2015 – Teen Living Programs*
2014 – La Casa Norte
2013 – Chicago Cares, Inc.
2010 – Morton Arboretum; Christopher House
2009 – Christopher House
2008 – Writers’ Theatre
2007 – Search Development Center
2006 – Metropolitan Family Services
2005 – Palliative Care Center and Hospice of the North Shore
2004 – Chinese American Service League, Inc.; Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
2003 – America’s Second Harvest; Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights; Seguin Services, Inc.
2002 – National Center on Poverty Law; Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
Small Nonprofit Award Winners
2020 – New Moms*
2019 – Bridge Communities*
2018 – The People’s Music School*
2016 – Christopher House*
2015 – Accion Chicago*
2014 – Literature for All of Us
2013 – Between Friends
2012 – Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation
2011 – Lincoln Park Community Shelter
2010 – The Bridge Youth & Family Services
2009 – Girls in the Game
2008 – Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
2007 – The Cara Program
2006 – TimeLine Theatre
2005 – Gads Hill Center
2004 – Deborah’s Place
2003 – Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
2002 – The Night Ministry
Small Nonprofit Honorable Mentions
2019 – Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
2018 – Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center and Mikva Challenge*
2016 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra*
2015 – Teen Living Programs*
2013 – Youth Job Center
2011 – Inspiration Corporation
2010 – Chicago Children’s Choir
2009 – Family Service and Mental Health Center of Oak Park River Forest
2008 – Lincoln Park Community Shelter
2007 – Inspiration Corporation
2006 – Women Employed
2005 – Women Employed
2004 – St. Leonard’s Ministries; Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago
2003 – Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; Chinese Mutual Aid Association
2002 – Chicago Children’s Choir; The Cradle
*From 2015 forward the large and small categories were eliminated.
Excellent Emerging Organization Award
Winners
2023 – Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD)
2022 – Love, Unity, and Values Institute
2020 – Math Circles of Chicago
2019 – Dream On Education
2018 – Lost Boyz, Inc.
2016 – Muslim Women’s Alliance
2015 – Intonation Music Workshop
2014 – Waukegan to College
2013 – Porchlight Counseling Services
2012 – EEE (Empowerment through Education and Exposure)
2011 – Urban Initiatives
2010 – Family Defense Center
Honorable Mention
2022 – Healing to Action
2020 – Girl Forward
2019 – Chicago Eco House and Shift: Englewood Youth Orchestra
2018 – Honeycomb Project and The Kedzie Center
2013 – Gonzo Soccer