Awards
The Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance and the Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership serve to recognize exemplary work by both nonprofit boards and leaders in the region.
The Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership
In honor of Pat Libby’s incredible work in promoting the values of tzedakah and tikkun olam, The Nonprofit Institute has established the Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership, to be given annually to an exceptional executive working in the nonprofit and philanthropic arena.
The Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance
The mission of the USD Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance is to recognize, celebrate and promote good governance in the San Diego region's nonprofit sector. The winners are announced and celebrated at The Nonprofit Institute's Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium.
Begin quote Yesterday was a day that I will remember happily and gratefully always - for the incredible honor and surprise of being awarded the 2018 Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership. Receiving this award from such a stellar organization as The Nonprofit Institute at USD was just overwhelming (cue - tears!).
The Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership
In honor of Pat Libby’s incredible work in promoting the values of tzedakah and tikkun olam, The Nonprofit Institute has established the Libby Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership, to be given annually to an exceptional executive working in the nonprofit and philanthropic arena.
As founder of The Nonprofit Institute, Pat Libby has always been passionate about the critical role that nonprofits play in our communities and the importance of having them run professionally.
Her life’s work with nonprofits has been guided by her Jewish faith, particularly by the values of tzedakah [pronounced “tse-DAH-ka”] and tikkun olam [pronounced “tee-KOON oh-LAM”], Hebrew phrases that respectively mean “righteousness” and “repairing the world.”
Pat Libby has spent her life putting those values into action, by empowering people to carry out the mission of their nonprofit organizations and philanthropy; people who are driven by a vision of a better world.
Pat Libby stepped down from The Nonprofit Institute to pursue the next chapter of her career as a management consultant to nonprofits and philanthropies across the country. She did this having established a strong foundation of work with an amazing track record:
- Nearly 1000 nonprofit and philanthropic organizations strengthened through applied learning and consulting
- Over 3300 board members, staff and other community leaders trained through professional education and other academic programs
- A nationally recognized academic research center
- Hundreds of free management resources through our Nonprofit Best Practice Library

Begin quote Tonight, The Nonprofit Institute at USD awarded North County Lifeline and us this coveted award. We are honored and proud of the collaborative environment our board and staff have created and their continued work to move the Museum forward in achieving our mission of inspiring human connections!
The Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance
Like a kaleidoscope, the work of nonprofit governance is intricate, varied and involves viewing the organization through a variety of lenses. Nonprofit governance works best when viewed through three lenses: fiduciary, strategic and generative. Good boards are dedicated volunteers who understand which lens to apply at any given time, to provide leadership that enhances an organization's ability to fulfill its mission.
The mission of the USD Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance is to recognize, celebrate and promote good governance in the San Diego region's nonprofit sector. The winners are announced and celebrated at The Nonprofit Institute's Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium.
Previous Kaleidoscope Award Winners



















