THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION, INC.

2005 Baltimore AIM for Excellence Awards - Application Information

Purpose

AIM for Excellence (Achievement in Management for Excellence) is an awards program established by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.  Its purpose is to encourage Weinberg Fellows to effectively use their program-related earnings to make positive changes affecting those whom it is their mission to serve.

Eligibility

All Baltimore Weinberg Fellows are eligible to apply for the awards each year. Collaborative efforts are encouraged and generally will be eligible for higher awards. 

Structure

• The Baltimore AIM Awards Selection Committee includes representatives of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and the Program’s Board of Advisors.

• Awards may be made in varying amounts once a year, including one award of $25,000. No awards will be made when in the Selection Committee’s judgment the applications are not sufficiently strong or are undocumented.  (Since AIM is an awards program, results are key.)

• Awards will be made in the form of unrestricted grants to the agencies the Weinberg Fellows serve.

·        The AIM for Excellence awards program may be modified from time to time. Weinberg Fellows are encouraged to give feedback and offer suggestions to strengthen AIM.  Comments may be sent to The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and can be signed or anonymous.

Criteria 

There are two primary criteria for the AIM for Excellence Awards:    

·        The innovation, project, approach or effort described demonstrates identifiable, increased positive impacts in the lives of disadvantaged residents of the Baltimore metropolitan area, through improved agency ability to reach more people or reach them more effectively. 

·        The application clearly shows how learnings from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Fellows Program sessions were applied in the innovation or program highlighted.  Please be specific.

Other factors that will be considered favorably: 

• Breaks new ground for helping disadvantaged people, particularly when helping them to meet their own goals and improve their lives on their own terms
• Offers an innovative, replicable model
• Involves other Weinberg Fellows and agencies in collaborations and partnerships
• Takes constructive risks
• Lowers administrative costs relative to service costs

In general, the greater the increase in positive impact on the lives of the poor and the needy that can be demonstrated, the more likely the entry is to receive an award, and the higher the award is likely to be. 

Format

As long as the basic information requested is included, you are welcome to choose your own format.  The application does not need to be long or complicated.  It does need to be clear and accessible, especially since some of the entries eventually will be published as brief, simple case studies that others can use to strengthen their services to disadvantaged residents of the Baltimore metropolitan area.  Please include the following information:

a.      What you set out to accomplish

b.      How and why you selected the particular outcomes sought

c.      What Weinberg Fellows Program learnings were utilized

d.      What sort of liaison or coordination is in place or planned with those providing similar kinds of services

e.      Whether other Weinberg Fellows and their agencies are or will be involved 

f.        If collaborations/partnerships are involved, what specific commitments were made by of each applicant organization; whether there are written agreements by the agencies, rather than verbal agreements among the Executive Directors, and whether the agreements depend on the tenure of the current Executive Directors 

g.      What has been accomplished thus far, when, and by whom

h.      What has happened along the way, and how you have dealt with any obstacles and opportunities that presented themselves

i.        What the measurable impacts have been thus far, for whom

j.        What the subjective impacts have been thus far, for whom

k.      What resources were required

l.        What the next steps are

m.    What you have learned by doing what you did

n.      What other agencies need to know if they want to do something similar

Setting this information in context may strengthen your application.  Your organization’s mission, goals, size, staffing pattern, budget, number of people served and/or other information may be helpful. Please keep in mind the difference between an award application and a grant proposal. Remember that you are not seeking support for a worthy project, asking for a specific sum, or hoping to round out your budget through an AIM award—you are demonstrating that you put Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Fellows Program learnings to work and got effective results. You do not need to be eloquent to be persuasive. You need to document effectiveness.

Therefore, if possible, focus on accomplishments and outcomes rather than plans. Remember that the ultimate goal—and the ultimate criterion—is actual measurable positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged residents of the Baltimore metropolitan area.  But though the preference is for outcomes that are identifiable, in the first few years of the Baltimore AIM Awards, by necessity applications may focus more on what’s planned than on what has actually been accomplished.  We understand that results are not always immediate.

Process 

• Participants will be notified of the application deadline by mail annually. It is important, therefore, to notify the Foundation of any changes in mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and email.

• Your application must be received by 4 p.m. the day of the deadline.  (In 2005, the deadline is July 29.)

• The original application must be signed by the Board President and the Executive Director. 

• Your application packet should include:

o       The signed original plus seven copies of the completed application

o       An executive summary/abstract of your application (250 words or less) for use in publicity for the AIM Conference

o       Two copies of supporting documents, if any

o       A statement of willingness to allow reasonable time to mentor another agency wishing to replicate the featured innovation or program, signed by the Executive Director and the Board President. (This can be included in a cover letter).

• Applications should be addressed to: 

Weinberg Fellows Program
AIM for Excellence Awards
c/o The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
7 Park Center Court
Owings Mills, MD 21117 

• Applicants are asked to reserve the date of AIM Conference (in 2005, December 7) and to make presentations based on their entries if requested.

• If you have any questions or you would like to discuss your submission ideas with a member of the Board of Advisors, please contact Ted Gross.

2005 AIM Conference