Wipfli's $20,000 Innovation Excellence award
Wipfli is invested in recognizing and supporting innovation in the federally funded nonprofit and social services world. Wipfli's Innovation Excellence Award, in honor of the late Evelyn Wright Moore, recognizes nonprofit leaders who use technology and forward thinking to make a difference in their organization and their community. One leader who demonstrates innovation and passion for their organization and community will earn a $20,000 award for their agency.
Evelyn was the president and CEO at Brazoria County (Texas) Head Start Early Learning Schools, Inc. A lifelong champion of innovation, learning and community service, she attended every Wipfli National Training Conference over 16 years until her passing in 2017.
We have pledged to continue Evelyn’s legacy and carry on her spirit of innovation by recognizing other impactful nonprofit leaders with an annual award. We invite you to help to honor her legacy by nominating a committed, passionate and innovative leader who makes a difference in their organization and their community.
Nominations are now open for the 2023 award and will be accepted through May 20, 2023. Conference attendees may nominate themselves or another leader from their organization. The winner will be announced at the Stronger to Serve conference in July and must be present to receive the award.
2022 winner
In 2022, the award went to Liz Kuoppala, executive director of the MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership in western Minnesota. Kuoppala transformed the agency’s service delivery model by employing a whole-family approach, with a focus on equity to create multigenerational, upward mobility for low-income and elderly residents in five Minnesota counties.
The agency formerly looked at regulations as the ceiling of what could be done. But under Liz’s leadership, they shifted their view. “If the regulations we have to follow are the floor, we began to look at where we could launch from that,” she said. “If we see what families need, but government funding doesn’t support it, we go to private sources. We’re seeing more families move out of poverty than ever before.”
Previous recipients:
- Eileen Sperl (2021), director of Child and Family Services at Meta House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eileen piloted Meta House’s Filial Therapy Program, an innovative mode of play therapy focused on the developmental needs of children and the parent‐child relationship. The family‐centered, evidence‐based curriculum is now used widely and considered a best practice.
- Claire Rice (2020), executive director of the Arts Alliance Illinois, who helped unite the city of Chicago, the state of Illinois and private philanthropists to provide immediate financial relief to individual artists and arts organizations at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Belva Dorsey (2019), CEO of Enrichment Services Program, who broke down silos at the Columbus, Georgia community action agency to create operational efficiencies that greatly enhanced their anti-poverty programs.
- Michael Patterson (2018), chief information officer and co-founder of Arkansas Early Learning, who installed Google Minis in classrooms and used voice-assisted technology to reduce the paperwork burden on caregivers with the Head Start grantee.
Submissions will be reviewed and scored by a committee of Wipfli associates, with the winning submission receiving the highest aggregate score.
The innovator selected will be contacted by email. Wipfli may request additional information from the winner, including photos and video, for use in promotional marketing. The winner must attend the Stronger to Serve National Training Conference in July to accept the award.
