Award Categories

2024 NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARD CATEGORIES

Click on a category below to submit your nomination.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes an individual who serves as a role model for philanthropy through his or her history of sustained volunteerism and financial giving. He or she is also active in passing along the value of philanthropy to future generations. To be awarded this distinction, the individual must have been honored in another category in previous years.

Small Business Leadership Award

This award is presented to a business with 100 employees or fewer that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through financial support and volunteerism. The business encourages and motivates others to take philanthropic leadership roles in the community.

Corporate Leadership Award

This award is presented to a business or corporation of any size that demonstrates outstanding philanthropic commitment through financial support and community involvement. The corporation contributes direct financial support for projects, programs, and/or capital improvements to multiple northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations in addition to participating in volunteer community activities.

Foundation Leadership Award

This award is presented to a philanthropic foundation that contributes financial support to multiple northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations. The foundation’s impact includes support for innovative approaches to solving problems in the community.

Outstanding Philanthropist Award

This award honors an individual or family with exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, demonstrates outstanding civic and charitable responsibility and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles in the community. In addition, the individual or family encourages and motivates others to take leadership roles in philanthropy (i.e. challenge gifts, matching gifts, volunteering, etc.).

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award

This award honors an individual or family who demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating groups of volunteers for nonprofit fundraising initiatives. The recipient(s) have exceptional leadership skills in coordinating groups of volunteers for major fundraising projects, ideally for more than one nonprofit  organization. 

Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award

This award recognizes an individual who works directly for a nonprofit organization, serving as a role model for other fundraising professionals and demonstrating the highest of ethical standards. This person's career should highlight significant increases in return on fundraising investment, successful management of key programs, the creation of new organizational cultures, and/or the introduction of innovative and creative ideas. The nominee must have a minimum of ten years' experience and be a member of the AFPNEO chapter. Consultants or other individuals not working directly for a charity are INELIGIBLE for this award. Two letters of support of this nomination should be emailed to info@afpneo.org.

Rising Star Outstanding Young Professional Fundraiser Award

This award recognizes a fundraiser age 30 or under who displays excellence in raising funds, inspiring donors, managing campaigns, and demonstrating a dedication to the charitable sector through time, talent and treasure. The nominee must work directly for a nonprofit organization, serving as a role model for other fundraising professionals and demonstrating the highest ethical standards. The nominee must have a minimum of three years of experience and be a member of the AFPNEO chapter. Two letters of support for this nomination should be emailed to info@afpneo.org. The awardee will receive a full membership scholarship when his/her current membership expires.

Youth in Philanthropy Award

This award recognizes service by a child or group of children in grades K-12 who demonstrate commitment to the community through direct financial support, volunteering, and/or leadership in philanthropy. The child or group of children devotes time, talent, and/or treasure to creatively support a nonprofit and is responsible for the creation, orchestration, and results of this project. Special consideration will be given to the child or group whose work is ongoing.

Special Recognition Award

This award is presented to an individual, family, or group whose philanthropic contributions are unique and impactful and whose work supporting a nonprofit organization or cause is innovative.