1 June 2022
Carmichael opens applications for the Good Governance Awards 2022.
Strong governance in the nonprofit sector is more important than ever for maintaining public trust and is essential for the sustainability of the nonprofit sector. That’s according to Carmichael, who launched the Good Governance Awards 2022 today (01.06.22).
The Good Governance Awards recognise and encourage adherence to responsible governance by nonprofit organisations in Ireland. Awards are made based on the quality of an organisation’s annual report and financial statements.
Commenting today (01.06.22), Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí, CEO of Carmichael, said: “We are delighted to open applications for the Good Governance Awards 2022. Each year the Awards showcase the incredible work carried out by nonprofit organisations in Ireland to implement effective and transparent corporate governance policies.
“The awards are now in their 7th year and I am delighted to say it is going from strength to strength. We had a record number of entries last year with 124 nonprofits entering the awards from across the country and in most of the categories we are seeing the standard increasing.
“Charities and nonprofit organisations are very dependent on public trust and support for their sustainability and survival. In recent years, a number of high-profile cases of poor governance have damaged public trust. These cases are unacceptable and are not the norm in our sector. The annual report provides a real opportunity for nonprofits to tell their story and showcase their commitment to transparency by outlining its performance, governance, culture and financials. An annual report can help to reinforce trust and strengthen relationships with stakeholders and build relationships with the public, potential donors, volunteers and supporters.”
As part of the judging process for the awards, annual reports of applicants are assessed by panels of governance and accountancy experts under the following criteria: transparency, governance, performance and impact and financial information.
Last year’s awardees were: Sharing Point, Volleyball Ireland, Marie Keating Foundation, Jigsaw, Central Remedial Clinic and Concern Worldwide.
Mr. Ó Corrbuí added, “The Good Governance Awards raise the quality of corporate governance in the nonprofit sector by encouraging higher standards of good practice. Expert feedback is provided to all entrants on how to improve the quality of their annual reports. This helps to ensure our sector is meeting best practice and constantly reforming.”
“We were delighted to have the sports organisation Volleyball Ireland as one of the Good Governance Award winners in 2021 and this year we would encourage more entries from sporting bodies and, in particular, from smaller, volunteer-run nonprofits. The awards are open to any Irish nonprofit organisation with a social objective. This can include charities, social enterprises, unincorporated groups, sports organisations and companies limited guarantee. We welcome applications from all areas – from local sports clubs and community groups to social & health service providers and arts organisations.”
How to Enter
There are seven categories for the awards based on the annual turnover of the organisation:
- Category 1: For organisations with an annual turnover of less than €50,000
- Category 2: For organisations with an annual turnover of between €50,000 and €250.000.
- Category 3: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €250,000 and under €1 million.
- Category 4: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €1 million and under €5 million.
- Category 5: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €5 million and under €15 million
- Category 6: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €15 million and under €50 million
- Category 7: For organisations with an annual turnover of over €50 million.
Details on the entry criteria and categories; the judging panel; guidance on how to enter; and other resources such as annual report templates are available at: www.goodgovernanceawards.ie .
