Fergus Falls Senior Citizens Program - Excellence Award 2005

In 2002, Fergus Falls Senior Citizens Program became the first nationally-accredited senior center in Minnesota based upon the Board's hard work, supported by staff, to develop and adhere to policies and procedures that met the national standards of the National Institute of Senior Centers.

The Senior Citizens Program enjoys an active board of seniors interested in having a leadership role in society, and 15 active Board sub-committees. The Program hosts an annual intergenerational National Issues Forum in Fergus Falls, uses and regularly updates its Strategic Plan and has a track record of identifying community needs through surveys and community input, and then meeting those needs through special initiatives and strategic alliances.

Recently, the Program participated in forums and letter-writing campaigns to state representatives to address public transportation in their county, one of only seven counties in Minnesota without public transportation.

In fundraising, financial management, effective strategic alliances, and evaluation, this nonprofit best exemplified the Principles and Practices of Nonprofit Excellence among applications from nonprofits with annual operating budgets of $1.5 million or less. Fergus Falls Senior Citizens Program, Program Supervisor is Kathy Sporre. Website: www.ffsenior.org.

This year's Nonprofit Excellence Awards Panel included Terry Barreiro, Saint John's University; Carol Berde, the McKnight Foundation, John Mohr, Lifetrack Resources (last year's award winner); Roger Toogood, retired executive, Children's Home Society, Jim Toscano, Park Nicollet Foundation; Wenda Weekes Moore, Kellogg Foundation and Marina Munoz Lyon, Marquette Financial Companies.