Our National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon is our keystone event of the year, where we get to honor the philanthropic work in our community and celebrate the remarkable impact it has in our area. The act of giving, in any form, creates a ripple effect of positivity that can touch countless lives. The passion of helping others can be found anywhere. We hope this information will help you identify nomination ideas for donors, volunteers, or colleagues who deserve recognition for the time, talent, and treasure they provide in service to others.
We accept nominations in these 6 categories:
- The Kathryn Gilbreath Outstanding Fundraising Professional
- The Dean Loehr Outstanding Young Professional
- Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
- Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
- Outstanding Foundation
- Outstanding Corporation
A strong award nomination includes a number of important elements. We encourage you to utilize the following tips below and follow the outlined application criteria to submit the best possible nomination.
- The application deadline for 2026 Outstanding Awards is Friday, May 15, 2026.
- Give comprehensively summarized answers (300 words or less). Less than 250 words can hurt a nomination.
- Bullet points and lists should be utilized where needed (e.g., lists of organizations the nominee volunteers, key grants or gifts). The judges are interested in a narrative style writing which will help them better understand what the nominee has achieved and how the nominee has made an impact. A compelling and well-organized collection of content is important for understanding why your nominee should receive the award.
- Focus on the specific question posed. Keep responses directly relevant to that question. Responses that do not directly represent the question in reference could weaken your nominee's opportunity.
- Responses that demonstrate your nominee's involvement with multiple organizations are much stronger than those showcasing the involvement with only your organization. * A Co-Nominator is allowed and may strengthen the information you are able to collect on your nominee; however, a Co-Nominator will NOT have any affect on the judges' scoring.
- Letters of support for your Nominee are REQUIRED. A minimum number of 2 letters of support must be submitted with your application. These letters should share the impact your nominee has specifically made through the eyes of another individual and/or organization. Therefore, again, highlighting the reach your nominee has on the community.
- If you have a great nominee, but are not a good writer, we encourage you to find someone to help. Over the years, some nominations have not advanced because the nomination was poorly written.
- Proofread your application before submitting. Having another individual review your application before submitting is encouraged.
For more questions regarding nominations or submitting, please email afplubbock@gmail.com.