The University of Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative is currently accepting nominations for two awards recognizing innovation and leadership in the nonprofit sector.

Nominations for the fourth annual Fifth Third Bank Innovative Nonprofit Award and the new Distinguished Nonprofit Leadership Award will be accepted until August 15, 2008.

"The Distinguished Nonprofit Leadership Award recognizes outstanding achievement in Kentucky nonprofit chief executives in the areas of strategic leadership, community building, ethical integrity, innovation and commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector," said Danielle Clore, UK Nonprofit Leadership Initiative director.

Nominees must have served as or be a salaried, full-time (minimum 35 hours per week) chief executive of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Kentucky and must have at least fifteen years of nonprofit work experience as of Aug. 15, 2008. Clore said the award is open to leaders of any type of nonprofit organization -- human service, educational, environmental, arts, faith-based, etc.

"The Fifth Third Bank Innovative Nonprofit Award recognizes a nonprofit organization in Kentucky implementing inventive, nontraditional, programs or methods that effectively and efficiently meet community needs," Clore said. "The organization will have demonstrated creativity and vision in finding solutions to address community issues."

Previous recipients of the award include Community Housing of Winchester, Habitat for Humanity of Louisville and the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership at the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in Lexington.

Any registered 501(c)(3) organization located and operating in Kentucky is eligible for nomination.

The awards will be presented at the Sixth Annual Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Forum Oct. 16 at the Lexington Convention Center. Visit the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative's Web site, http://www.kynonprofits.org to learn more and download nomination packets for both awards.

The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative is an outreach program of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. It serves and strengthens Kentucky's nonprofit sector through educational opportunities, consulting services, and resources for organizations and their leaders.