While the Henry Kravis Prize is often presented to individuals, it is also being given to organizations. The Prize is presented annually based on appointments received from a team of private nominators. The nominators, who are selected internationally from various fields, are chosen according to their in-depth know-how of the nonprofit sector.

The nominations span a wide range of areas in the nonprofit division. It encompasses fields in economic development, education, public health and law/justice/human rights.

The nominees for the said categories are then assessed based on their achievements in understanding the goals of an aid organization and applying its practices in administering that group. After careful evaluation of the nominees and naming the winners, the recipients of the Prize obtain the award and $250,000, which is contributed to a nonprofit association of his/her preference.

Previous recipients of the Henry Kravis Prize in Leadership include the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in 2008, Rural Development Institute founder Fazle Abed in 2007, and inaugural recipient Roy Prosterman in 2006.

Henry Kravis, the co-founder of KKR, is a leading figure in the private equity industry as well as an active philanthropist.

To those ends, the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) have banded with legendary private equity investor Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR). Together, KKR and SEO established the Alternative Investment Fellowship Program, which aims to increase the visibility of minorities in the private equity workforce.

Under the program, four or six aspiring financial executives would get a chance to work for KKR as associates. To be qualified, they must undergo training of 18 months. SEO has gotten a three-year support from KKR for this project.

Founded in 1963, SEO is one of the first nonprofit groups of its kind in New York City. It has rapidly grown over the years to become a full-fledged international nonprofit, with branches in the UK and China.

Renowned in America for its workplace diversity initiatives, SEO helps 1,000 youngsters every year. Its flagship Career Program alone has produced 5,000 graduates, who have secured full-time positions in chief investment banks, law firms, and international corporations.

One exemplary alumnus of the said program is Joseph Bae, who now enjoys a senior position with KKR in Asia. In addition to the program, SEO also offers services through the Alumni and Philanthropy Program, and the Scholars Program.

SEO’s partner in the Alternative Investment Fellowship Program is a pioneer in the private equity industry. KKR runs divisions in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Menlo Park, Houston, Hong Kong, Sydney, Beijing, and Mumbai. It supports conventional private equity funds, externally managed accounts, capital funds, and credit strategy funds, among others.

Henry Kravis and George Roberts, along with Jerome Kohlberg, founded the company in 1976. The former two orchestrated the phenomenal 1988 buyout of RJR Nabisco. Today, they are leading new innovations in private equity, including the Green Portfolio Project.