Each year, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter celebrates National Philanthropy Day by honoring our local philanthropists and fundraising community at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon.
Your organization 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 the NPD luncheon on November 18th.
We invite you to submit nominations for the 2020 NPD awards today. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2020. If you have any questions regarding the nominating process, please contact Elizabeth Prenger, 2020 at 501-804-6662 of afpnwa@gmail.com.
The following awards are presented each year at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon. Please note that not every award is given each year. Awards are contingent upon eligible nominations.
Links for nominations:
COVID-19 Hero Award
The COVID-19 Hero Award recognizes an individual, family, group, organization, business or foundation whose actions and philanthropic contributions have made a significant impact on Northwest Arkansas's crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Past NPD honorees from any category are eligible for this award. The nomination should include evidence of:
- Financial and philanthropic contributions that made a significant impact on Northwest Arkansas's ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Support provided to more than one charitable organization in response to the pandemic
- Utilization of nominee's sphere of influence to inspire others to support a cause or organization serving our community during the pandemic
- Nominees's contribution had a widespread and long-lasting impact in our community
Outstanding Philanthropist:
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
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser:
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
Outstanding Fundraising Executive:
The Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and expertise as professional fundraisers. 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
Outstanding Philanthropic Organization:
The Outstanding Philanthropic Organization 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 Ernie Lawrence Outstanding Professional Advisor:
The Ernie Lawrence Outstanding Professional Advisor 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
Outstanding Foundation:
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
Outstanding Corporation:
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
Legacy Award:
The Legacy Award recognizes exemplary philanthropy contributions made in legacy form via bequest, trust, or other planned gift. If the award recipient is deceased, 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
Lifetime Achievement Award:
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals, families, or organizations that 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 numbers of organizations
- Outstanding philanthropic project(s) resulting from a gift and/or leadership
- Charitable giving that has resulted in gifts by other individuals
Youth in Philanthropy Award (Group and/or Individual):
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