Nonprofit Nationally Recognized for Using Business Principles to Address Societal Issues

Milwaukee, WI, December 6, 2007—Fast Company Magazine and Monitor Group announced winners of their 2008 Social Capitalist Awards, naming Milwaukee-based Public Allies as one of the top nonprofits who use business tools to solve the world’s most pressing social problems, and who have demonstrated a consistent and unusually large impact on society.

“This attention to nonprofit innovation and performance is especially critical at a time when our leaders are transitioning, and new leadership is emerging to meet the needs of our changing world. Public Allies is honored to join the esteemed list of for-profit and nonprofits to receive this award,” says Paul Schmitz, CEO and President of Public Allies.

For five years, Fast Company has partnered with global consulting firm Monitor Group to identify, evaluate, and celebrate top-performing nonprofit organizations. The Awards assess social entrepreneurial organizations of different sizes and ages across social sectors as an explicit effort to further performance measurement and accountability in the social sector in a highly rigorous, data driven, comparative approach. Organizations are rated based on five critical components: social impact, entrepreneurship, innovation, aspiration and growth, and sustainability.

Public Allies is the premier pipeline for developing diverse, young nonprofit and community leaders, and nationally recognized source for preparing leaders and organizations to lead more effectively for changing times. Public Allies is a fast growing organization, operating leadership development programs in fifteen communities, a national alumni network, and a training and consulting arm called The Leadership Practice. Recognized by both Bush and Clinton administrations, McKinsey & Company, The Bridgespan Group, AmeriCorps, and the Pew Partnership, Public Allies plans to double its operations by 2011.

The 45 nonprofit and for-profit winners are featured in Fast Company’s December/January 2008 issue (on newsstands December 4-Januaryy 22, 2008), and on www.fastcompany.com. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony at the Westin Washington, DC City Center on January 8, 2008.


ABOUT PUBLIC ALLIES, INC.:
Through Public Allies’ signature AmeriCorps program, they identify talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and prepare them for careers as nonprofit and community leaders. Allies serve in 10-month, paid apprenticeships at local nonprofits and participate in a rigorous and rewarding leadership development program, working alongside peers and leaders in their home community. Public Allies has built a diverse and effective pipeline into the nonprofit sector, where 80% of their graduates continue nonprofit careers. Public Allies partners with local universities and nonprofit organizations to operate their local programs. Public Allies currently operates its signature program in 15 communities and plans to expand to 32 communities by 2011.