Executives Who Didn’t Social-Distance From Their Mission
There are words to describe the past year but they either fall short of comprehensiveness or you simply can’t print them in a professional publication.
The year was a showcase of front-line heroes, many of whom were tied to nonprofits, and leaders who with their staffs found a way to adapt and overcome the hardship of a 100-year pandemic. In recognition of this heroism and dedication, The NonProfit Times chose the Top 50 Power & Influence Executive Directors.
There has been voluminous coverage of the hardships but little mention of the reality that the sector’s response was years in the making. The evolution of thinking, planning and implementation of 360-degree services focusing on shelter, food and healthcare is what held a nation together. Executives in some cases risked their lives – staring down threats to personal safety – to ensure those who needed help got as much as could be mustered.
The year quite possibly launched a new era in philanthropy, with major donors and foundations eliminating the red tape and strings attached to funding. Infrastructure is finally receiving deserved respect.
The leaders highlighted in this 24th annual NPT Power & Influence Top 50 have distinguished themselves as initiators, innovators and leaders. An important criteria of the list is that the honoree must be a working day-in, day-out executive. In many cases this year day-in, day-out was 24/7/365 and still going.
The 2021 honorees were selected from a group of roughly 300 top executives. A committee of The NPT editorial staff, contributors and a few executives plugged in to executive movement were involved in the selection process. This is not a lifetime achievement award. The executives must have had an impact during the previous year.
Among those who were honored were: Ana Marie Arilagos, Hispanics in Philanthropy (Oakland, California), mobilized resources for Latinx communities. Fred Blackwell, San Francisco Foundation, preached social justice through an equity agenda focused on racial and economic inclusion long before the national awakening. James Canales, The Barr Foundation, concentrated on structure and trusting people. Canales modified his strategies to put trust and connections above transactions and oversight as the pandemic destroyed everything in its path. Nancy Brown, American Heart Association (Dallas, Texas), has influence as a board member or executive committee member in the neighborhood of a dozen health organizations. There’s also AHA’s Innovation Think Tank, from which critical, entrepreneurial, new mission-aligned and revenue business enterprises have been launched. Learn more about how the other 46 stood out among all the Executive Directors in the US.
Learn more about the responsibilities of an executive Director and how to to strengthen your own unique leadership abilities by attending the July 25 Sunshine Certificate in Nonprofit Management class on Executive Director Training (Strategic Alliances) on Monday, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm
Source: https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/report/npt-power-influence-top-50-2021/
Paul Clolery – NPT vice president and editorial director
TheNonprofittimes.com The NonProfit Times has been a preferred partner since 1996 when John Mcllagquhan, Publisher, was a Keynote Speaker at the Fifth Annual Nonprofit Conference and has published information about The Florida Association of Nonprofits in its monthly national publication.