Landmark on Main Street, which is already a highly-regarded, well, landmark, is out to become even more recognized.
The operation has applied for a prestigious award handed out to the best managed nonprofits in New York. If selected, Landmark will be the first nonprofit on Long Island to win the award, which is handed out by the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.
There is plenty of competition, with Landmark one of 77 nonprofits up for the recognition. And the judging is rigorous. “All applicants will receive a 360-degree review with detailed feedback about their organization’s management practices,” said Michael Clark, president of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.
Landmark will be judged on its governance structure, financial management, diverse and responsive organizational practices, human resources, information technology practices, communications and fundraising and resource development.
Landmark Executive Director Sharon Maier-Kennelly feels her institution has a very good shot. Landmark “is a very strong organization, small, but efficient, and with very sophisticated management practices,” Maier-Kennelly said.
Last year alone, Landmark, which has a $1.2 million budget, presented 43 of its own events, including concerts and children’s theater, and welcomed other organizations and individuals for well over 100 other events, such as dance and music recitals. It also hosted organization’s fundraising events.
Landmark was established in 1995 as a community center and has stuck close to its roots. At the same time, the operation has grown significantly to become a regional performing arts center.
Winning the award from the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York would solidify that standing and also “show that we’ve been on the right path all these years,” Maier-Kennelly said. “We’ve grown in ways that are consistent with nonprofit best practices,” like responding to community needs and developing its board to best support the organization’s mission.
“This is very exciting,” Maier-Kennelly said. “Of course we hope we win. But even putting together the application was a wonderful opportunity to self-reflect on how far we have come as an organization, as well as consider some future directions.”
It is a long process to the finish line. This month, 10 semifinalists will be chosen and invited to submit a second application. Six finalists will be announced in early October, and visited by the committee that month.
In November, three winning organizations will be announced and honored at an awards presentation. Winners will receive cash awards of $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.
They will also be recognized in programming on WNYC, which co-sponsors the program, and receive tuition scholarships for the Programs in Social Enterprise in Executive Education at Columbia Business School.
