Nonprofit Leader, Brian Magee, executive director of the Montana Nonprofit Association Recognized for Commitment to Charitable Sector

Good works are paying off for Brian Magee, executive director of the Montana Nonprofit Association. Magee is the 2006 recipient of the national Phyllis Campbell Newsome Leadership Award. The award is presented by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) to a leader in the state association network who has decided to dedicate his or her career to serving others, and views the nonprofit sector as a vehicle for that service.

The award was created in memory of Phyllis Campbell Newsome, director of advocacy and community relations for the Center for Nonprofit Advancement in Washington, DC. In addition to being a new leader in the nonprofit sector, the award recipient must demonstrate the enthusiasm and visionary zeal exhibited by Phyllis while working with DC nonprofits.

“We applaud the work of dedicated, innovative, and ethical professionals in our network, a group that naturally includes new and upcoming leaders,” said Audrey Alvarado, executive director of NCNA. “Many folks are already working to address the pending leadership transition in the sector, asking ‘How do we fill in the gaps?’ One solution is looking at the existing pool of talent, and encouraging new leaders to help direct our future. Brian is definitely someone I would trust to help guide the sector into the future.”

As the winner of the 2006 Phyllis Campbell Newsome Award, Magee receives a cash prize, as well as complimentary registration and travel expenses to the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting and the 2006 NCNA Member Meeting, being held jointly in DC this October. The Nonprofit Congress is an initiative to unite nonprofits and strengthen the charitable sector – a task Brian is ready to address.

“It’s refreshing to know that so many of my peers are coming together to be proactive and strategically plan the development of the U.S. nonprofit sector. I’m glad to be a part of [the Nonprofit Congress], and am honored to represent the perspective of Montana nonprofits in this discussion,” said Magee.

In addition to more than two years leading the Montana Nonprofit Association, Magee spent four years as executive director of the Montana Commission on Community Service and two years as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) at the Corporation for Community Service in Spokane, WA. He has also worked at the Chicago Community Trust/Foundation and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He was recently recognized as one of Helena’s “20 Under 40” by the Helena Independent Record.