August 19, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
The award: The American Express NGen Leadership Award, administered by Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofits, with support from the American Express Foundation
What it recognizes: The accomplishments of a nonprofit leader under the age of 40 who has focused on important societal issues
The winner: Jeff Edmondson, managing director of the Strive Network, a Cincinnati group that galvanizes nonprofits, businesses, education groups, and government agencies to work together to promote academic success for children from birth through college
Why he won: Mikaela Seligman, vice president at Independent Sector, says Mr. Edmondson’s work is unglamorous, yet necessary. “His accomplishment has been very strong and direct, locally and regionally. It’s about the less sexy ways of doing this: You have to bring people together and then rigorously continue to track and use data,” Ms. Seligman says. “He’s a model we’re really excited to elevate.”
