The nonprofit sector thrives when its leaders are recognized, celebrated, and given the tools to keep growing. The EXCEL Award, presented annually by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, does exactly that — shining a spotlight on exceptional nonprofit chief executives in the Greater Washington region while creating a platform for sector-wide learning. Now in its twentieth year, the 2025 competition placed special emphasis on innovation in leadership, recognizing achievement in motivation, community building, ethical integrity, and strategic leadership.
Who Won the 2025 EXCEL Award?
This year’s EXCEL Award winner is Melodie Narain-Blackwell, President of Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc. — a nonprofit dedicated to health equity for BIPOC communities facing digestive diseases and chronic illnesses.
A native Washingtonian, Melodie founded her organization drawing on her early exposure to family-owned businesses, a deep faith, and a passion for entrepreneurship and advocacy. She is known for using principled frameworks to help others build strong foundations while championing awareness for those living with chronic illness. Her work stands at the intersection of direct service and policy advocacy — a combination that has made her organization both a trusted resource and a credible voice on gastrointestinal health disparities.
2025 Honorable Mentions
The Center also congratulates the two honorable mention recipients this year:
- Aisha Bond, President/CEO, Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce
- Brian Hujdich, Executive Director, HealthHIV
Click on their names to explore their individual finalist profiles and learn more about their leadership journeys.
Best Practices Video Series: Learn from the Finalists
One of the most valuable elements of the EXCEL Award is the Best Practices Video Series, produced by the Center and hosted by Sean Sweeney, Director of Operations. Each video features one of this year’s finalists sharing first-hand lessons in a specific area of leadership excellence. Leslie Zeid from GRF CPAs & Advisors — the EXCEL Award’s longtime sponsor — also appears as a guest in each video.
Video 1: Reinventing and Staying Relevant
Featuring Brian Hujdich, HealthHIV
Organizations that have been around for years often face the risk of stagnation — repeating the same programs and approaches without adapting to the changing landscape. In this video, Brian Hujdich discusses how HealthHIV has consistently evolved its programming and services to stay aligned with client needs and emerging trends. Rather than simply remaining relevant, the organization has positioned itself as a thought leader in its field.
Video 2: A Graceful Entrance as a New Leader
Featuring Aisha Bond, Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce
Stepping into an existing organization as a new executive leader is rarely straightforward. In this video, Aisha Bond shares how she entered her role with a clear vision while remaining sensitive to existing norms, stakeholder expectations, and organizational culture. She describes her approach as “graceful sternness” — a balance of decisiveness and diplomacy that helped her earn meaningful buy-in from all sides.
Video 3: Policy Advocacy and Nonprofit Branding
Featuring Melodie Narain-Blackwell, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses
For many nonprofits, direct service and policy advocacy go hand in hand. In this video, 2025 EXCEL Award Winner Melodie Narain-Blackwell explains how her organization integrates care delivery with legislative and policy work. She also discusses the process of building credibility as a trusted subject-matter expert — and how to effectively market that authority to amplify your nonprofit’s brand and reach.
All videos are available to watch on demand through the Best Practices Video Series page.
About the EXCEL Award
The EXCEL Award has been presented by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement since 2005 and has been proudly sponsored by GRF CPAs & Advisors since 2007. It honors exceptional nonprofit chief executives in the Greater Washington area and provides meaningful professional development resources — not just a trophy.
What Winners and Honorable Mentions Receive
- EXCEL Winner: Access to a $10,000 professional development account; the winner’s organization receives an additional $2,000 cash award for staff professional development.
- Honorable Mention (up to two): Each honoree’s organization receives a $3,000 award to support professional development for the candidate and/or staff.
There is no fee to submit a nomination.
Eligibility Requirements
The competition is open to any chief executive of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Greater Washington area with an annual budget under $10 million.
The Washington metropolitan area includes:
- District of Columbia
- Maryland: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s counties
- Virginia
Nominations may be submitted by board members, staff, volunteers, clients, or community members — with or without the candidate’s knowledge.
How the Judging Process Works
The competition uses a three-part evaluation process:
- Written nomination and fact sheet
- Invitation-only interview
- Site visits for finalists
The selection committee includes local leaders from nonprofit, foundation, corporate, and government sectors. Committee members are expected to attend at least three meetings, two site visits, and the award ceremony. Interested in joining? Contact Sean Sweeney at seans@nonprofitadvancement.org.
Past Winners: A Legacy of Leadership
The EXCEL Award has recognized transformational leaders across the region for two decades. Here’s a look at recent honorees:
2024 — Winner: Dawn Quattlebaum, Seabury Resources for Aging | Honorable Mentions: Dr. Indira Henard, DC Rape Crisis Center; Julie Fabsik-Swarts, EAPA
2023 — Winner: Ari Brooks, Friends of the Library Montgomery County | Honorable Mentions: Dr. Donney John, NOVA ScriptsCentral; Gabby Mulnick Majewski, DC Affordable Law Firm
2022 — Winner: Brigitte Winter, Young Playwrights’ Theater | Honorable Mentions: Emily Gage, Phoenix Bikes; Janine Tursini, Arts for the Aging
2021 — Winner: Koube Ngaaje, District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) | Honorable Mentions: Mark Chalfant, Washington Improv Theater; Lisa Whetzel, Britepaths
2020 — Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, USTA Mid-Atlantic; Maya Martin Cadogan, PAVE; Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, Offender Aid and Restoration
2019 — Stephen Glaude, CNHED; Hugo Mogollon, Community Foodworks; Bridgette Stumpf, NVRDC
Why Nonprofit Leaders Value the EXCEL Award
The award’s value goes beyond financial support. Past participants consistently highlight what recognition from a peer institution means for their teams, their donors, and their communities:
“This award allows me to celebrate the wins and the journey truly — it’s a gift I’ll forever cherish.” — Koube Ngaaje, President & CEO, DASH (2021)
“The differentiator is that you receive the gift of professional development for your staff. Their success and satisfaction is the ultimate achievement.” — Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, CEO, USTA MAS (2020)
“The EXCEL Award is a mark of distinction. Such recognition assures us — as well as our donors and partners — that we are on the right path, doing good work.” — Sarah Degnan Kambou, President, ICRW (2018)
Nominate a Leader Today
If you know a chief executive who is leading with innovation, integrity, and impact, consider nominating them for the EXCEL Award. Download the Nomination Packet to get started, and email questions to seans@nonprofitadvancement.org.
The Greater Washington region is home to thousands of nonprofits working every day to strengthen communities. The EXCEL Award is the Center’s way of ensuring those leaders — and the organizations they serve — receive the recognition and resources they deserve.