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Nonprofit Management Awards Announced at Axelson Center Symposium

Nick Tasler, internationally acclaimed author, delivered the day's keynote, which included an illustrative round of Jenga to introduce the strategy behind decision-making.

Honorees include Accion Chicago, Intonation Music Workshop, and Teen Living Programs

CHICAGO (June 24, 2015) —The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management announced the winners Monday of its and its as part of the .

The 2015 Alford-Axelson Award, given for exemplary nonprofit management practices, was presented to Accion Chicago, with an honorable mention awarded to Teen Living Programs. The 2015 Excellent Emerging Organization Award, presented to an up-and-coming Chicago-area nonprofit, was given to Intonation Music Workshop.

The awards were part of the one-day conference dedicated to bringing nonprofit professionals together to discuss management topics that affect all types of organizations. The event included a series of workshops, in addition to a keynote address by , internationally acclaimed author of Why Quitters Win and The Impulse Factor. In his talk, “Everyday Decisiveness: Decision-Making for Organizational Excellence,” sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Tasler urged the audience to “be deciders” and to “change the world one decision at a time.”

Award winners for 2015 announced at Monday's event were (left) , Alford-Axelson Award winner, which believes in fair and equal access to economic resources so that entrepreneurs can achieve their full financial potential; and (center) , Excellent Emerging Organization Award honoree, empowering children to become rock stars on every stage of life through innovative music education. (right), earning honorable mention for the Alford-Axelson Award, offers comprehensive, year-round services specifically for youth who are homeless, which includes emergency needs and housing to education, job readiness, and whole health services.

The awards were presented during the luncheon portion of the event. This year’s Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence winner, , helps entrepreneurs in underserved groups achieve financial security, grow their businesses, create jobs, and stabilize their communities. Since 1994, Accion has made nearly 3,800 small business loans in Illinois and Northwest Indiana totaling $30 million. Accion Chicago believes in fair and equal access to economic resources so that entrepreneurs can achieve their full financial potential.

As part of the Symposium, a number organizations participated in the "Make Your Pitch" contest, sponsored by Urban Partnership Bank. , an off-campus program with 40 years of experience providing students the opportunity to live, learn, and work in Chicago, took home the $1,000 prize.

“We accept this award on behalf of the people we serve,” said Betsy Neely Sikma, director of development and communications at Accion Chicago. “Thank you for letting us be a part of this nonprofit community,” she added, before imploring the audience to “transform the small business economy together.”

The Alford-Axelson award honors and continues the legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community healthcare leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena.

, the 2015 Excellent Emerging Organization Award winner, empowers children to become rock stars on every stage of life through innovative music education. Intonation works with youth ages 6-17 in Chicago to channel their love of music into a valuable skill set and an opportunity to express their creativity. From 2013 through 2014, Intonation served almost 700 students, comprising 51 pop bands across 12 city sites.

“To think the founder began this organization not long ago with his own instruments out of the back of a van,” said Development and Resource Manager Kevin Claxton. He went on to thank Intonation’s partners, in addition to the Chicago nonprofit community that continues to support their work.

Intonation received a $2,500 cash prize, sponsored by , a commemorative award, and a capacity-building package that will support improvement of services and efficiency.

For more information about the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, please visit

The 16th annual Axelson Center Symposium welcomed hundreds of area leaders to collaborate on ways to create organizational excellence.
Take a look at the collection below for some of the images and conversation that took place.

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