Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leaders Gather in Washington for 2014 NCRP Impact Awards

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hundreds of leaders from the country's top nonprofits and foundations gathered yesterday for the second annual NCRP Impact Awards. Hosted by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), these awards call attention to smart, high-impact philanthropic strategies that cultivate meaningful change in communities across the U.S. This year's recipients include: Ben & Jerry's Foundation, awardee for corporate foundation; The California Endowment, awardee for large private foundation; Hill-Snowdon Foundation, awardee for mid-sized private foundation; and Liberty Hill Foundation, awardee for community foundation.

"Despite the weight of challenges faced by our society, we also see the innovative, powerful, and effective efforts of our allies who are moving us towards a more just nation," said Aaron Dorfman, executive director of NCRP. "Our society does not lack problems to be solved, but it also does not lack solutions, and it does not lack leaders committed to bringing those solutions to light."

Held annually during the Council on Foundations' conference, the NCRP Impact Awards honor foundations that embody the ideals of impactful grantmaking outlined in NCRP's seminal 2009 report, Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best: transparency, democratized philanthropy and high-impact investments that work for the greater good.

Vermont's Ben and Jerry's Foundation, the corporate foundation awardee, has worked to advance social and environmental justice since 1985. Its grantmaking promotes key issues from justice for migrant workers to transparency in genetically modified foods.

"We are so thrilled and so honored to receive this award. We really appreciate the incredible work you guys all do, and even more especially, the work done by our grantees," said president and co-founder Jerry Greenfield in a taped video message accepting the award. Rebecca Golden, the foundation's director of programs, personally accepted the award.

Large private foundation awardee The California Endowment is known for its work to promote health equity in the state and was a key player in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

"We're humbled to be receiving this award. The California Endowment will continue to strive for policy and systems change that will result in health improvements and expanding access to health care to everyone regardless of immigration status," said Robert K. Ross, MD, president and CEO in an earlier statement. "It is only through advocacy, community organizing and other activities that empower underserved communities as change agents that we can make meaningful improvements to our health and well-being." Shawn Ginwright, a leading expert on African American youth, youth activism and youth development and a member of The California Endowment's board of directors, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation.

Hill-Snowdon Foundation, the mid-sized private foundation awardee, is a leading philanthropy in the Washington metropolitan area. Their funding for grassroots and multi-issue organizing helped grantees such as DC Jobs for Justice raise the city's minimum wage. 

"All of us at the Hill-Snowdon Foundation are deeply honored and humbled to receive the Impact Award from NCRP," said executive director Dr. Nat Chioke Williams. "But the recognition should really go to our grassroots partners – all the amazing groups that we have the honor of helping to create meaningful and lasting change in the lives of low wealth families and communities across the country."

Grantmaking public charity awardee Liberty Hill Foundation is committed to effecting long-term social change in Los Angeles. Several of its grantees were behind the 2014 California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which guarantees overtime protection for caretakers no matter their immigration status.

"At Liberty Hill, we put the 'social' in 'social justice' – and we love any chance to celebrate with other leaders in the fight for justice and equality," said president and CEO Shane Goldsmith. "We are organizers, donor-activists and allies, and to us, this is a meaningful award because it's from a group we hold in high esteem for its brave work to strengthen social justice philanthropy."

As the country's only independent watchdog of foundations, NCRP uses research and advocacy to ensure that philanthropy contributes in meaningful ways to the creation of a fair, just and equitable world. Earlier this year, NCRP launched Philamplify, a new project that combines expert assessments and community feedback to maximize the impact of grantmaker giving. Visit www.ncrp.org for more information.

SOURCE National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy