Judging Criteria for the Good Governance Awards

To help you submit your entry we have set out the headings for the judging criteria of entries to the Good Governance Awards along with some of the areas judges will consider using the weighted marking scheme. We have also developed a template Annual Activity Report (for Category 1 organisations) and a template Annual Report (for Category 2-5 organisations) – these templates provide guidance on the areas that the judging process will use to shortlist and select the category winners.

If you need any additional on this please don’t hesitate to contact us on [email protected].

Judging Criteria for the Good Governance Awards

To help you submit your entry we have set out the headings for the judging criteria of entries to the Good Governance Awards along with some of the areas judges will consider using the weighted marking scheme. We have also developed a template Annual Activity Report (for Category 1 organisations) and a template Annual Report (for Category 2-5 organisations) – these templates provide guidance on the areas that the judging process will use to shortlist and select the category winners.

If you require any additional information please don’t hesitate to contact us on [email protected].

Award Type 1

Annual Report/Directors’ Report and Financial Statements

Mission, purpose & objectives

• Is it clear what the organisation’s purpose and key objectives are?
• Does it provide an insightful commentary on the organisation’s broader sector/ environment?

Strategy & Performance

• Does it provide a clear review of the organisation’s performance for the relevant year as well as how the current year’s strategy links to the longer term strategy of the organisation?
• Does it have measurable goals and show progress against those goals?
• Does it show what was achieved in the current year?
• Does it describe any challenges or barriers that the organisation encountered that prevented or constrained the achievement of goals and describe what actions/measures the organisation plans to take to address these challenges and constraints?
• Does it describe its future plans to achieve its strategic goal?

Outputs Outcomes & Impacts

• Does it demonstrate the difference/impact the organisation has made in the year in terms of what it has done or achieved (outcomes) and the difference it has made (impact)?
• Does it provide measures of outputs, outcomes and impact – e.g. use of case studies and testimonials?
• Does it give long –term trend data in relation to achievement of outcomes?
• Are the performance metrics in the report linked to the organisations long-term strategy objectives?

Funding

• Does it provide clear information on the funding it received and how that funding was used by source/type?
• Does it provide analysis or information on key movements in funding from the previous years?
• Does it provide reasons/factors for the movement?
• Does it set planned actions to be taken to improve/ensure sustainability of future funding?
• Does it highlight any risks/challenges to future funding?

Governance

• Does it provide details of how it is organised and governed?
• Does it describe the role of the board & board committee?
• Does it details of board meeting attendance?
• Does it provide details of sub-committee attendance?
• Does it provide a profile of Board members, skills, tenure, rotation?
• Does it provide details on how new board members are recruited, inducted and on-going development?
• Does it set the organisation’s approach to risk management?
• Does it provide details on the organisation’s resources?
• Does it describe the organisation’s approach to remuneration & performance management?
• Does it (if relevant) describe its fundraising activities and has the organisation signed up to the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising?
• Does it describe the organisation’s approach to investment policy?
• Has it adopted/or is in compliance with the Governance Code and/or other Best Practice Codes & Quality Standards?
• Does it describe the organisation’s Employees & Volunteers?

Financial Reporting

• Does the annual report comply with the disclosure requirements of the Companies Act/Charities Act etc.?
• Is the annual report FRS 102/SORP compliant?
• Does the annual report disclosure all significant accounting policies?

Award Type 2

Best Governance Improvement Initiative Award

The format for this submission will be a description of an initiative undertaken over the last 12-18 months to improve the quality of a nonprofit’s governance. Judges assessment of the entries for this award will be based on the following.

• The governance issue the organisation wished to address?
• What approach and solution did the organisation adopt to address the issue and improve its governance?
• What has been achieved/how has governance been improved as a result of taking the governance improvement initiative?

Contact Details

If you have queries comments etc on the Good Governance Awards, please don’t hesitate to contact us by filling in the form or if you prefer please contact us by email to [email protected]

By post to:

Good Governance Awards
c/o Carmichael
4-7 North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7

Or by phone please call Carmichael on 01-8735702