A coterie of Charity Awards judges past and present, along with past winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award, paid a special tribute to Charity Awards founder Daniel Phelan last night, as the event celebrated its 15th year.

Just before the evening’s host Stephen Frost took to the stage to introduce the ceremony, various sector leaders that have been associated with The Charity Awards over the years gathered on stage to pay special recognition to the man whose idea it was.

Daniel founded The Charity Awards in 1999, hosting the first ceremony in June 2000. In the 15 years since, close to 450 charities have made it onto the shortlist and 150 of those have been selected as winners.  

Around 100 sector leaders have been judges, collectively spending more than a month at judging days, plus many more weeks of poring over application forms and scoring entrants’ projects against the ten Hallmarks of Excellence.  The Hallmarks were drawn up in the very first year and have barely changed since, resolutely standing the test of time.

Sir Stuart Etherington and Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005 and 2006 respectively, gave a short speech on behalf of the assembled leaders and presented a certificate signed by them all to mark the occasion.

Baroness Pitkeathley said that because of Daniel’s commitment and tenacity, governance had gone from being “quite unpopular” a few years ago to a really important issue today, and the voluntary sector’s governance had become an example to other sectors.

“We wish him well and it’s great to have this opportunity to thank him for all he does for us.”

Sir Stuart, chief executive of NCVO, said the Charity Awards and Civil Society Media’s magazines and other products had contributed hugely to the professionalisation of the sector.

“The Charity Awards are a testament to Daniel’s commitment which goes far beyond being an ordinary commercial operator in the sector.  

“He has given of himself and his colleagues and his time and his resources to create not just a publishing opportunity but training, development – helping to make the voluntary sector what it is in this modern era.

“It’s fair to say he was almost the father of charitable publishing. Before the creation of Civil Society Media there really wasn’t much at all.

“When I think of Daniel I think of one word – he is a man of enormous integrity.”

Daniel was unable to attend this year’s Charity Awards so the certificate was accepted on his behalf by his wife, Cathy Phelan.  Cathy read out some words from Daniel: “It’s not often you get good news stories from the press so running the Charity Awards every year is a welcome counterbalance to our usual business of speaking truth to power and holding folk’s feet to the fire when they go wrong.

"Crucially important as that press role is, The Charity Awards remind us of the true purpose of our year-round journalistic vigilance and diligence. This is to foster an environment where the best efforts of charities can result in the best outcomes for society. And, of course, to have a great party to celebrate those."

He said the personal recognition was unexpected and "has affected me more than I could have imagined".