BizTimes Media is looking to southeastern Wisconsin’s business and nonprofit communities to nominate deserving individuals, companies and organizations for the second annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards program.
The awards call attention to the philanthropic accomplishments of area business leaders and strides made by nonprofits. Last year’s inaugural awards program recognized honorees during a November breakfast held at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. The event drew more than 400 attendees from the region’s business and nonprofit communities.
The 2015 awards program, presented in partnership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter and the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, features nine award categories.
Corporate Citizen Award categories are:
- Corporate Citizen of the Year, given to a for-profit organization in recognition of its impact on a single or multiple nonprofit organizations through financial contributions, collective efforts to promote, encourage and organize fundraising efforts, and company-sponsored programs and/or events engaging employees to participate in volunteerism.
- Next Generation Leadership, given to for-profit executive who is younger than 40 and demonstrates leadership and significant contributions to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through active leadership on a board and/or strategic management/guidance.
- In-Kind Supporter, given to a professional or company that provides in-kind support to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through any type of non-financial contributions.
- Corporate Volunteer of the Year, given to a for-profit non-executive volunteer who demonstrates outstanding dedication to a nonprofit or multiple nonprofit organizations. Active volunteerism can be ongoing or linked to a specific single project or cause.
- Lifetime Achievement, given to an individual who over his/her lifetime has made significant contributions of time, treasure and talent to helping improve our community through his/her work in the nonprofit community.
Nonprofit Award categories are:
- Nonprofit Organization of the Year, given to a nonprofit organization (not an individual) in recognition of creativity and innovation in building a sustainable organization, excellence in teamwork, an outstanding dedication to the organization’s mission in the community, and organizational excellence in management and operations. The award is given to both a small and large organization.
- Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year, which recognizes a collaborative project that encompasses developed collaborative relationships with other nonprofit organizations, engagement of multiple stakeholders, within the community being served and innovation in approaching a community problem or issue. The winner will have leveraged these relationships to make even more meaningful impact in the community. Note: since this award recognizes a project that may involve multiple organizations or individuals, it may be “awarded” to more than one part of the project in recognition of their contributions.
- Nonprofit Executive of the Year, given to a nonprofit leader who demonstrates vision and innovation in advancing the mission of the nonprofit, extensive involvement in a nonprofit and/or creativity in bringing new resources and opportunities to the nonprofit.
- Social Enterprise, which recognizes a nonprofit organization that demonstrates creative application of the principles of social enterprise in the operation and funding of the organization.
Nominations can be completed online at www.biztimes.com/npawards and are due by Monday, Aug. 31. Self-nominations will also be accepted.
Nominations will be vetted by a committee composed of BizTimes editorial team members and nonprofit advisors.
This year’s award winners will be saluted during a Nov. 5 breakfast at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. More information on the event and a list of last year’s winners can be found at www.biztimes.com/npawards.
In addition to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, award program sponsors include PNC Bank, M3 Insurance, TEC and the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee.
