Each year, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals celebrates philanthropy in a big way by honoring our local philanthropists on National Philanthropy Day (NPD). Current AFP member organizations can nominate individuals, businesses, and groups who have made Northwest Arkansas a better place to live and work through their dedication to philanthropy. An anonymous panel of community members selects the honorees to be recognized at a celebratory luncheon that will be hosted on Wednesday, November 12th at the Fayetteville Public Library’s Event Center. Nominating organizations will be notified of the selections in late July.
Please note that we have added two new categories this year! One is for Outstanding Emerging Professional and one is for Outstanding Fundraising Executive for Non-Profits with an operating budget of under $2 million. Please take a look at all of the categories and we look forward to seeing your nominations for one or more of them in the coming weeks!
The nomination applications are currently open and will promptly close at 5:00 p.m. on June 27, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at afpnwa@gmail.com.
The Ernie Lawrence Outstanding Professional Advisor Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the nonprofit community by encouraging charitable giving among their clients and who are recognized as leaders in promoting civic and professional involvement.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Charitable gifts that are the result of involvement with clients
- Involvement in programs that encourage philanthropic activities
- Training and educating the nonprofit community about planned gifts
The Legacy Award recognizes exemplary philanthropy contributions made in legacy form via bequest, trust, or any other planned gift. Members of the recipient’s family will be invited to accept the award.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Years of continual direct financial support to and/or support of the community
- Impact of financial support or projects in the community
- Specific achievements launched through the philanthropists’ efforts
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals, families, or organizations who demonstrate a lifetime record of exceptional generosity, which, by their direct financial support, have encouraged others to assume civic or charitable responsibility.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Direct monetary support over a lifetime to a number of organizations
- Outstanding philanthropic project(s) resulting from a gift and/or leadership
- Charitable giving that has resulted in gifts by other individuals
The Outstanding Corporation Award is presented to companies that demonstrate exemplary commitment to the nonprofit community through financial support and/or through encouraging and motivating others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Direct financial contributions to and/or support of the community
- Impact of financial support or projects in the community
- Specific achievements launched through the corporation’s philanthropic efforts
The Outstanding Emerging Professional Award is presented to individuals with less than five years of experience who demonstrate exceptional skills and talents in fundraising, leadership, and commitment and service to the field.
Nominations should include evidence of:
- Career achievements, length, and tenure of fundraising background, experience, and results.
- Commitment to the fundraising profession and/or AFP, its mission of advancing ethical fundraising, and the fundraising profession. Include the individual’s commitment to continuing professional development, conference participation, publication, and professional education.
- Commitment to fundraising and philanthropy through voluntary service and/or financial support of nonprofit organizations.
The Outstanding Foundation Award is presented to foundations that demonstrate exemplary commitment to the nonprofit community through financial support and through encouraging and motivating others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Direct financial contributions to and/or other support of the community
- Impact of financial support on projects in the community
- Specific achievements launched through the foundation’s efforts
The Outstanding Fundraising Executive (operating budget less than $2M) Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and expertise as professional fundraisers in a non-profit with an operating budget of less than $2 million. Nominees should have at least five years of professional fundraising experience, demonstrate a commitment to both the community and professional field of fundraising and development, and be a member of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Leadership that is persuasive, effective, creative, and stimulating
- The nominee’s ability to give his/her best as a team leader and as a mentor
- Commitment to volunteerism and professional development
- Track record of raising funds
- Active participation as a member in the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of AFP and adherence to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices
The Outstanding Fundraising Executive (operating budget more than $2M) Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and expertise as professional fundraisers in a nonprofit with an operating budget of more than $2 million. Nominees should have at least five years of professional fundraising experience, demonstrate a commitment to both the community and professional field of fundraising and development, and be a member of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Leadership that is persuasive, effective, creative, and stimulating
- The nominee’s ability to give his/her best as a team leader and as a mentor
- Commitment to volunteerism and professional development
- Track record of raising funds
- Active participation as a member in the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of AFP and adherence to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices
The Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the nonprofit community through financial support and through encouraging and motivating others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Direct financial contributions to and/or other support of the community
- Impact of financial support of projects in the community
- Specific achievements launched through the organization’s effort
The Outstanding Philanthropist Award is presented to individuals, who have a record of exceptional generosity; who have demonstrated outstanding civic or charitable responsibility through direct financial support and who have encouraged and motivated others in philanthropy. The nomination should include evidence of:
- Direct monetary support to organization(s) in the community
- Specific achievements launched through his/her efforts
- Does the nominee encourage and motivate others to take leadership roles towards philanthropy and community involvement? Give examples
The Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in fundraising, devote significant time and effort to their charitable cause, and show a deep commitment to the advancement of the organization's mission. Recipients of this award are volunteers who make substantial contributions of time, effort, ability, and leadership to successful fundraising projects and/or successful projects to develop in-kind donations and donations of volunteer time and effort.
The nomination should include evidence of:
- Quality of the nominee’s leadership and organizational ability
- Time and effort the nominee contributed to his or her cause
- Financial results of the nominee’s efforts in relation to the organization’s needs and goals
- Success in recruiting and motivating others
The Youth in Philanthropy Award is presented to individuals, schools, civic groups, or other youth organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to their community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering and/or leadership to improve the community in which they live. There is an award for an individual up to age 23, or an award for a group up to age 23.
Each nomination should include evidence of:
- Time, talent, and resources the nominee contributed to his or her cause(s)
- Specific achievements launched through the nominee’s philanthropic efforts
- Success in recruiting, leading, and motivating others
- Impact of financial support or volunteerism in the community