The AFP MA's Massachusetts Gives Awards Celebration honors exceptional Massachusetts philanthropists, corporations, foundations, volunteers, and fundraisers each fall around National Philanthropy Day®, with nominations submitted by the community. More than 200 guests gather at this annual AFP Massachusetts breakfast event in Boston to celebrate the impact of philanthropy.
Awardees are recognized in the following categories:
- Leader in Philanthropy Award honors an individual or family whose charitable giving inspires others to give back. The awardee is nominated and selected by the AFP MA's Executive Committee.
- Big Heart Service Award honors a volunteer whose donation of time has inspired others to give back.
- Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award honors a foundation that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support, innovation, and motivation of others.
- Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award honors a corporation or its corporate foundation that demonstrates outstanding commitment through financial support and through encouragement and motivation of others.
- Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award honors an outstanding fundraiser for recent achievements working for nonprofit, charitable organizations.
- Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising Award honors an individual for achievements over the span of an entire career.
View the full list of previous honorees.
Congratulations to Awardees 2025
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LEADER IN PHILANTHROPY: Karen Holmes Ward, Director of Public Affairs & Community Services, and Host & Executive Producer of CityLine, WCVB
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BIG HEART SERVICE AWARD: Laurie Nahigian, Director of Annual Giving, Nativity Preparatory School of Boston
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OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION: Ahold Delhaize USA
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OUTSTANDING CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIST: Takeda
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OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONAL: Darian B. Gambrell, Executive Director, DEAF, Inc
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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN FUNDRAISING: David Woodruff, CFRE, Consulting Partner, Marts & Lundy
Learn More