Nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to solve our world’s most pressing issues, yet rarely get recognized. Classy created the Classy Awards to celebrate outstanding nonprofits and spotlight the impactful work done worldwide.

Today, we’ll cover the value of elevating nonprofits’ impact, how to submit your Classy Awards nomination, the benefits of being a Classy Award winner, and more.

What Are the Classy Awards?

Sitting at the core of every nonprofit’s mission is eradicating a critical problem. However, without awareness, advocacy, and resources, that goal is out of reach.

Started in 2009, the Classy Awards have grown to become the premier awards for the social sector. Decided by the Leadership Council, a well-respected group of social sector leaders and influencers, the Classy Awards bring together groundbreaking nonprofits to recognize the achievements driving social change.

Classy’s goal is to provide nonprofits the platform deserved to elevate their causes, grab the attention of new donors, and strengthen relationships with existing supporters. The benefits of being a Classy Award recipient (which we’ll cover below) can fuel your fundraising efforts, strengthen your organizational impact, and get you closer to your goals.

Key Benefits of Being Named a Classy Award Winner

Public Recognition

Joining the community of Classy’s premier nonprofit award winners presents opportunities for awareness and exposure of your organization to larger audiences.

Thanks to our partnership with Upworthy, winners will be featured on their website and social media channels, which collectively have over 16 million followers across platforms.

Winners will also be featured in a dedicated media relations campaign and provided tools to share the achievement with their network.

Collaborative Passes

Classy Award finalists receive two complimentary passes to Classy’s in-person 2023 Collaborative conference on June 7-8, 2023, in Philadelphia, and invitations to attend celebrations throughout the event.

Community of Leaders

All finalists are evaluated by our Leadership Council and have exclusive opportunities to build connections with these individuals and other members of the nonprofit community at Collaborative.

In addition, being recognized as a top organization of the year naturally increases donors’ trust in your nonprofit. It can also help re-energize your employees to continue charging toward your goals. Your staff members’ increased pride and motivation make a perfect recipe for greater organizational impact.

The Fine Print

Eligibility

Organizations must verify 501(c)(3) status and have a headquarters in the United States.

Programs

Classy Awards are awarded to organizations at the programmatic level and must have at least one year of measurable results. A program is a specific initiative that addresses a social or environmental problem, relies on dedicated resources and budget, and has a strategy to achieve distinct goals.

Criteria

All nominees are scored on knowledge of the problem, innovative approach, ability to solve the problem, and overall effectiveness.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Be Named One of the 2023 Nonprofits of the Year

Utilizing innovative ideas, creative technologies, and organizational effectiveness is no small feat. That’s why the sector’s accomplishments in these areas deserve celebration.

Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your team’s impact to greater audiences and inspire other nonprofits to celebrate their accomplishments.