
2025 Nominations Under Review
The Awards & Criteria
The award selection committee, consisting of area nonprofit and marketing professionals, will choose a worthy recipient in each award category. The decisions of the award selection committee are final and will be shared with nominators in mid-September. Only the names of award recipients will be shared publicly. Names of nominees who were not selected will remain confidential and will not be published in any event materials.

OUTSTANDING LIFETIME PHILANTHROPY
Presented to an individual or family, either in honor or memory, who are recognized widely as community philanthropists and have a long and proven record of making a significant impact in their community through financial support and volunteerism/leadership for a variety of organizations.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Specific examples of direct financial support, volunteerism, and leadership
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Description of impact of the above examples to the nonprofit and greater community
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Legacy of philanthropic impact over the nominee's lifetime

OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST
Presented to an individual or family who have demonstrated exceptional generosity through direct financial support, outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles on a local, national and/or international level.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Examples of direct financial support and civic and charitable responsibility
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Description of impact of the above examples to the nonprofit and greater community
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Examples of encouragement and motivation given to others to take on philanthropic leadership roles

OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEER
Presented to an individual or couple who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skill in coordinating and motivating groups of volunteers for major fundraising projects and is recognized for sharing their time and talents with area nonprofit organizations.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Examples of leadership and organizational ability in fundraising campaigns
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Description of time, effort, and financial commitment to the nonprofit and greater community over the time of their service
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Details of fundraising goals achieved by his/her effort

OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIC CORPORATION
Presented to a corporation or its corporate foundation that has demonstrated outstanding commitment through financial support and through encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles toward philanthropy and community involvement.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Specific examples of direct philanthropic support of projects in the greater community
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Description of the impact and specific achievements of the above examples
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Examples of encouragement and motivation given to other individuals or corporations to take on philanthropic leadership roles

YOUTH IN PHILANTHROPY
Presented to an individual or group of young people (college students or younger) who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, charitable programs, volunteerism and/or leadership in philanthropy.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Examples of volunteerism to the nonprofit and greater community
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Description of specific achievements from the efforts above examples

OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONAL
Presented to an individual fundraising professional who practices his/her profession in an exemplary manner. The recipient must have at least five years of professional fundraising experience, evidence of quality of leadership and being a team player, a commitment to continuing professional development, and commitment to fundraising and philanthropy through volunteer service and financial support of non-profit organizations.
Nominations in this category should include the following:
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Examples of career achievements, experience and results, including length of fundraising background
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Examples of the individual’s effective leadership
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Description of the individual’s commitment to continuing professional development and support of the fundraising profession and philanthropy through voluntary service and financial support of nonprofit organizations