2025 Nonprofit Excellence Award Nominations

We are seeking nominations for the 17th annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards. The winners will be announced at our 2025 in-person awards event , presented by Citizens, which will take place on the evening of June 18 at the New England Aquarium. These awards are a chance to recognize and honor nonprofits and nonprofit professionals doing incredible work across every sub-sector and region of the Commonwealth.

2025 Excellence Awards categories:

Advocacy
Community-Building
Innovation
Leadership
Small Nonprofit
Young Professional

All nominations are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 2. You are welcome to submit a nomination in more than one category. All nominees will be recognized in person at the event.

Please note:

To assist in preparing your answers prior to submission, the nomination questions are available as Google Docs here. We recommend preparing your answers in a Word document and saving a copy of your nomination.

Additional information:

Refer to the Excellence Award FAQ page for more information about the Excellence Awards and the judging process.

Contact Clare Ladd at cladd@massnonprofitnet.org with any questions.

Nomination Category

Award category

Please select a category to learn more and submit a nomination

Advocacy

The Excellence Award in Advocacy recognizes a nonprofit organization whose work resulted in significant progress on a public policy issue in the last two years.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

Identified a clear and compelling need in the local community/nonprofit sector
Designed and implemented an effective, timely campaign around the issue
Demonstrably engaged and mobilized constituents, the general public, and/or public policy decision makers
Achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes through their advocacy work

Community-Building

The Excellence Award in Community-Building recognizes a nonprofit organization that has successfully implemented an initiative or program to encourage inclusion, strengthen community, and/or promote belonging. There are many forces seeking to divide us, and this award aims to honor the important and challenging work being done to break down barriers and bring people closer together.

Nominations should convey how the organization

Demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to building and strengthening community
Worked collaboratively to overcome challenges
Achieved successful outcomes that show more connection and inclusion among the populations served

Innovation

The Excellence Award in Innovation recognizes a nonprofit organization that has utilized new models or strategies to solve longstanding problems or adapt to a changing environment.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

1. Identified a compelling need or challenge that existed internally or in the local community

2. Thought "outside the box" to create and implement an innovative model or strategy to address the issue

3. Achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes with the new model or strategy

4. Has a strong plan for continued sustainability/growth of the new model or strategy

Leadership

The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes a nonprofit chief or senior executive who has an extraordinary record of organizational results and exemplifies strategic vision, passion, integrity, innovation, perseverance, and a collaborative spirit.

Nominations should convey how the nominee:

Identified clear organizational needs and goals and implemented effective strategies to meet them
Has overcome internal and/or external challenges using strategic vision, innovation, perseverance, and/or collaboration
Shows a passion for and dedication to their organization's mission and their communities
Has achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes through their leadership

Small Nonprofit

The Small Nonprofit Excellence Award recognizes a nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $250,000 or less. Despite its small size, this organization has managed to fulfill its mission and make major contributions to the population that it serves.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

1. Does a remarkable job, given its small budget, in achieving meaningful and measurable outcomes

2. Has used strategy, innovation, or partnerships to leverage resources and make the greatest impact possible

3. Has overcome challenges or maintained organizational health despite its small budget

4. Has a strong plan for sustainability and/or growth

Young Professional

The Young Professional Excellence Award recognizes an emerging nonprofit professional who has made a significant contribution to their organization through their vision, innovation, interpersonal skills, and hard work. This professional may work in any role within a nonprofit. This award is for professionals 35 years of age or younger.

Nominations should convey how the nominee:

1. Consistently goes above and beyond their job description to address needs or challenges in their organization and/or community

2. Shows a passion for and dedication to their organization's mission and the communities that they serve

3. Has overcome obstacles to grow and succeed in their role

4. Has produced meaningful and measurable outcomes through their vision, innovation, interpersonal skills, and hard work

**You must select an award category in order to proceed**

Nominee Basic Information

Organization

Organization Name

For all awards except Leadership and Young Professional, the organization will be the awardee

Website

Twitter Handle

City

Region

Nonprofit Subsector

Nominee Contact Information

For the Advocacy, Community-Building, Innovation, or Small Nonprofit award, please indicate the person whom we should contact if this organization is chosen as a finalist.

For the Leadership or Young Professional award, the individual listed should be the nominee.

First Name

Last Name

Title

Phone

Email

Advocacy

The Excellence Award in Advocacy recognizes a nonprofit organization whose work resulted in significant progress on a public policy issue in the last two years.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

Identified a clear and compelling need in the local community/nonprofit sector
Designed and implemented an effective, timely campaign around the issue
Demonstrably engaged and mobilized constituents, the general public, and/or public policy decision makers
Achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes through their advocacy work

Nomination Questions

1. Provide a brief overview of the organization, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services offered, and population served. (150 word limit)

2. What was the need or challenge identified in the community/nonprofit sector? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How did the organization design and implement an effective and timely campaign around this issue in the last two years? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

4. How did the organization engage and mobilize constituents, the general public, and/or public policy decision makers around this issue in the last two years? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

5. Provide a clear description of the meaningful and measurable outcomes that the organization achieved through their advocacy work in the last two years (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

Community-Building

The Excellence Award in Community-Building recognizes a nonprofit organization that has successfully implemented an initiative or program to encourage inclusion, strengthen community, and/or promote belonging. There are many forces seeking to divide us, and this award aims to honor the important and challenging work being done to break down barriers and bring people closer together.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

Demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to building and strengthening community
Worked collaboratively to overcome challenges
Achieved successful outcomes that show more connection and inclusion among the populations affected

Nomination Questions

1. Provide a brief overview of the organization, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services offered, and populations served. (150 word limit)

2. What was the need, gap, or challenge that prompted the organization to take on community-building efforts? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How did the organization work to build connection, inclusion, and community? (Please use specific examples, 250 word limit)

4. Provide a clear description of the meaningful outcomes achieved as a result of the organization’s community-building efforts. Discuss ways in which the population served benefits from the work that was done.
(Please use specific examples, 300 word limit)

Innovation

The Excellence Award in Innovation recognizes a nonprofit organization that has utilized new models or strategies to solve longstanding problems or adapt to a changing environment.

Nominations should convey how the organization

1. Identified a compelling need or challenge that existed internally or in the local community

2. Thought "outside the box" to create and implement an innovative model or strategy to address the issue

3. Achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes with the new model or strategy

4. Has a strong plan for continued sustainability/growth of the new model or strategy

Nomination Questions

1. Provide a brief overview of the organization, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services offered, and population served. (150 word limit)

2. What was the need or challenge identified, and why weren't traditional approaches effective? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How did the nominee create and implement an innovative model or strategy to address the identified need? What was innovative about this solution? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

4. Provide a clear description of the meaningful and measurable outcomes achieved because of the innovative solution. Specify why this approach was more effective than a traditional one. (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

5. Provide a clear description of the organization's plans for the sustainability and/or growth of this innovation. (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

Leadership

The Excellence Award in Leadership recognizes a nonprofit chief or senior executive who has an extraordinary record of organizational results and exemplifies strategic vision, passion, integrity, innovation, perseverance and a collaborative spirit.

Nominations should convey how the nominee:

Identified clear organizational needs and goals and implemented effective strategies to meet them
Has overcomes internal and/or external challenges using strategic vision, innovation, perseverance, and/or collaboration
Shows a passion for and dedication to their organization's mission and their communities
Has achieved meaningful and measurable outcomes through their leadership

Nomination Questions

1. Provide a brief description of the nominee’s title and responsibilities as well as an overview of their organization, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services, and population served. (300 word limit)

2. How did the nominee identify clear organizational needs and goals and implement effective strategies to meet them? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How did the nominee overcome challenges, both internal and external, using strategic vision, innovation, perseverance, and/or collaboration? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

4. How does the nominee demonstrate passion for and dedication to their organization's mission and the communities they serve? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

5. Provide a clear description of the meaningful and measurable outcomes achieved through the nominee's leadership. How did the outcomes impact the organization and/or its constituents? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

6. Would you like for this person to be considered for MNN's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at our annual conference in October, as well?

YesNo

Small Nonprofit

The Small Nonprofit Excellence Award recognizes a nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $250,000 or less. Despite its small size, this organization has managed to fulfill its mission and make major contributions to the population it serves.

Nominations should convey how the organization:

1. Does a remarkable job, given its small budget, in achieving meaningful and measurable outcomes

2. Has used strategy, innovation, or partnerships to leverage resources and make the greatest impact possible

3. Has overcome challenges or maintained organizational health despite its small budget

4. Has a strong plan for sustainability and/or growth

Nomination Questions

1. Provide a brief overview of the organization, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services offered, and population served. (150 word limit)

2. Given its small budget, what meaningful and measurable outcomes has the organization achieved? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How has the organization used strategy, innovation, or partnerships to leverage resources and make the greatest impact possible? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

4. How has the organization either overcome challenges or maintained organizational health? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

5. Provide a clear description of the organization's plan for sustainability and/or growth. (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

Young Professional

The Young Professional Excellence Award recognizes an emerging nonprofit professional who has made a significant contribution to their organization through their vision, innovation, interpersonal skills, and hard work. This professional may work in any role within a nonprofit. This award is for professionals 35 years of age or younger.

Nominations should convey how the nominee:

1. Consistently goes above and beyond their job description to address needs or challenges in their organization and/or community

2. Shows a passion for and dedication to their organization's mission and the communities that they serve

3. Has overcome obstacles to grow and succeed in their role

4. Has produced meaningful and measurable outcomes through their vision, innovation, interpersonal skills, and hard work

Nomination Questions

1. Nominee's age:

2. Provide a brief description of the nominee’s title, responsibilities, and a brief overview of the organization with which they are associated, including mission, approximate size, date established, programs and services, and population served. (300 word limit)

2. How does this nominee consistently go above and beyond their job description to address needs or challenges in their organization and/or community? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

3. How does the nominee demonstrate passion for and dedication to their organization's missions and the communities that they serve? (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

4. Describe obstacles, both internal and external, that this nominee has overcome to grow and succeed in their role. (Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

5. Provide a clear description of the meaningful and measurable outcomes achieved by the nominee. How did the outcomes impact their organization and/or its constituents?(Please use specific examples, 200 word limit)

Nominator Information

Please complete all information even if this is a self nomination.

Your First Name

Your Last Name

Your Email

Your Phone

Your Relationship to Nominee