2016 Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Hero Award Nominations Now Open

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), in partnership with The McKnight Foundation, is pleased to announce its second annual Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Hero Awards. The awards will honor four Minnesotans—two from the Twin Cities metro and two from Greater Minnesota—who have demonstrated an exceptional personal commitment to helping others in their communities but who have received little or no public recognition.

Previously known as The Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service, the awards had been presented by the McKnight Foundation since 1985 in honor of Virginia McKnight Binger, the Foundation’s first board chair and the daughter of the founders.

Each award recipient will receive a $10,000 cash award, as well as recognition at MCN's 2016 Annual Conference on October 6, 2016 in Duluth. Nominations open on April 25, 2016, with an application deadline of May 26, 2016.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY

MCN invites nominations recognizing anyone working to make their communities more responsive to the needs of poor or disadvantaged people in Minnesota.

• Nominees do not have to be employed at an organization to be eligible, but may be volunteers, board members or service staff of nonprofits.

• Nominees must be Minnesota residents.

• Self-nominations will not be accepted.

• Nominees may not be past Virginia McKnight Binger Award recipients.

For more information about the Virginia McKnight Binger Awards, or to submit a nomination, visit http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/mcknight-binger-awards.

ABOUT THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) was founded in 1987 to meet the increasing information needs of nonprofits and to convene nonprofits to address issues facing the sector. It is the largest state association of nonprofits in the U.S. Through MCN, nonprofits join together across interest areas to work on issues of common concern to all.

ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION

The McKnight Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for present and future generations through grantmaking, collaboration, and encouragement of strategic policy reform. Founded in 1953 and independently endowed by William and Maude McKnight, the Minnesota-based family foundation had assets of approximately $2 billion and granted about $86 million in 2013.