By Steve Turnbo
Published: 4/16/2010  2:20 AM
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There are currently more than 18,000 nonprofits in Oklahoma — and 1 million throughout the United States — all competing for the same resources. In a world of so many, how can any organization hope to achieve success?

The finalists for this year's Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards have done just that. The ONE Awards brings together some of the best nonprofits in the state to showcase their work and offer them a well-deserved thanks for the services they provide to Oklahomans.

This year, 27 nonprofits were selected as ONE Awards finalists across nine categories, and one will be selected as the overall winner of the 2010 Charles Schusterman Award for Excellence. The impact of the ONE Awards seems modest at first, but consider this: Combined, this year's finalists serve more than 2 million people annually and have made quite an impact on the state.

Chances are good that each of us has been influenced by the work of a nonprofit, whether through a museum or zoo we patronize, an after-school program in which our children participate or a health clinic we attend. Nonprofits play a huge role in improving the lives of our citizens on a daily basis, yet for the most part they go unrecognized for their efforts.

Oklahoma's nonprofits have always served as the state's first line of defense against everything from poverty to domestic violence. They are often first to witness the needs and struggles of the state's citizens and lead the efforts to meet these needs.

In this economy,
their role is even more crucial. Food banks and other charitable organizations help struggling Oklahomans provide for their families and avoid or prevent homelessness. Social service organizations help families weather everything from divorce to caring for elderly loved ones. The state's museums and arts organizations give us a glimpse into other times and cultures, bring color and music into our world and encourage children to explore their creativity.

While their work has incredible impacts, nonprofits face many struggles with which for-profit companies rarely deal. Nonprofits rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers to help them carry their missions forward, and the fact that they provide a service rather than a commodity is a tough sell, especially in this economy. Yet somehow they manage to thrive, because at the end of the day, Oklahoma cannot live without its nonprofits. They offer affordable (or, more often, free) services to Oklahoma's most vulnerable populations, nurturing them so they can grow and contribute to our great state. No other sector gives so much back to Oklahoma.

The ONE Awards, hosted by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, are intended to give these nonprofits the acknowledgement they deserve, to thank them for their contributions to our state and to inspire other nonprofits to excel. Those being recognized this year are but a small sample of the organizations making a profound difference in their communities.

Steve Turnbo, chairman emeritus of Schnake Turnbo Frank PR, is 2010 event chairman of the Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards