1. 2017 Awards Program

2. Why the Gift of Coaching
The Gift of Coaching Awards program celebrates ICF Chapters with impactful pro bono coaching initiatives that make a difference in their communities and in the world. The ICF Foundation’s Gift of Coaching Initiative launched in 2012 as a means of connecting nonprofit leaders with pro bono professional coaching services. The Gift of Coaching Awards program represents a shift in focus for the Foundation, intended to leverage the excellent work ICF Chapters are already doing to increase awareness of and better their communities through professional coaching.

3. What awards are available?
The Gift of Coaching Award will recognize an ICF Chapter for a single, impactful nonprofit partnership initiative with pro bono coaching at its heart.
The Culture of Giving Award will recognize an ICF Chapter for its portfolio of impactful nonprofit, pro bono initiatives and its ongoing commitment to the ICF Foundation’s ideals and values.

4. 2016 Gift of Coaching Winners

5. What is the awards timeline?
Applications open on September 5, 2017
Applications will be closed on October 17, 2017
December 2017 – semi -finalist determined
Notification to finalist week of Jan 15, 2017

6. What is the award looking for?
The Foundation is looking for a pro bono project that shows sustainable efforts in your community.
The implementation of the initiative must have begun no later than December 31, 2016.
Our criteria includes reviewing:
Alignment: Mission/vision
Insights: Learning
Systems: Government
Measurable: Outcomes

7. Alignment: Mission/Vision
In this criteria, our judges will be looking for specific examples of how the mission of the partner is addresses for the local community as a whole and/or population served.
Examples include:
Coaching initiative aligns with nonprofit partner organization’s mission, vision or core values.
Coaching initiative can be mapped clearly to the nonprofit partner’s goals/objectives.
Coaching initiative has evolved to meet specific needs of the nonprofit partner.

8. Insights: Learning
In this criteria, the judges will look for examples of how the experience of professional coaching motivated positive change within the partner organization and/or among the population served.
Examples include:
Coaching has supported the nonprofit partner in enacting or managing change.
Coaching has impacted individuals’ personal and/or professional growth.
Coaching has become a budgetary priority for the nonprofit partner.

9. Systems: Governance
In this criteria, the judges are looking for examples of framework/approach used, rigorous professional standards, best practices and agreed-upon measures of success for coached and the partner organization.
Examples include:
Chapter and/or partner have a coherent system in place for managing and evaluating the coaching initiative.
Coaching initiative uses coaches who hold an ICF Credential.
Recipients of coaching are educated regarding the ICF definition of coaching and what to expect from the coaching process.
ICF Code of Ethics has been identified as a resource in coaching agreements; in particular, confidentiality has been preserved in coaching conversations.

10. Measurable: Outcomes
In this criteria, judges will look for examples of any observable and specific details that underscore the value, influence or effectiveness of the coaching initiative for the nonprofit partner’s/ staff and/or populations served.
Examples include:
Individuals who have received coaching provide positive testimonials that demonstrate the breadth and/or depth of the coaching initiative.
Client indicators are provided that validate increased levels of personal/professional effectiveness and overall well-being (e.g., decreased stress, increased resilience, goal attainment).
Return on expectations (ROE) measurements provided for individual and organizational goals that were identified before the coaching initiative was implemented

11. Where can I find more information?
Foundation website
2016 Case Studies
2017 Awards Worksheet
Connect with Foundation Staff at