Philanthropy Awards

What Are the Philanthropy Awards?

• The Philanthropy Awards are the Make It Better Foundation’s keystone program — think Academy Awards for nonprofits.
• Each year, we identify, elevate, and amplify the most effective nonprofits across multiple categories.

What Do Winners Receive?

• In 2025, Winning nonprofits will receive an award package valued at over $250,000.
• Runners-Up will receive award packages valued at over $100,000.
• All honorees will be celebrated at our Philanthropy Awards Ceremony on November 12, in honor of National Philanthropy Day.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for a 2025 Philanthropy Award, nonprofits must have submitted at least one You Said It article that has been accepted for publication by Better Magazine.

How Are Winners Selected?

• Winners and Runners-Up are selected by an Academy of Judges, which includes:
  • Philanthropy experts
  • Sponsors
  • Make It Better Foundation board members
  • Past winners
  • MIBF nonprofit partners who have received a $25,000 Grant + Content Collaboration Campaign in the past two years

Judging Criteria: A Venture Philanthropy Lens

Judges evaluate nonprofits based on five key areas:

• Effectiveness: Number of people served, outcomes achieved, long-term impact, and ability to break cycles of dependency
• Efficiency: Cost-effectiveness and collaboration with others
• Leadership: Board engagement, diversity, adherence to mission, and ability to take strategic risks for better outcomes
• Scalability: Capacity to grow programs and funding (independent of government reliance), and potential to replicate regionally
• Excellence: Highest standards of service, integrity, and transparency

Why Do the Philanthropy Awards Matter?

• The Philanthropy Awards are designed to amplify impact, not just recognize it.
• Honorees gain national visibility, new donors, increased sponsorship, volunteer support, and lasting momentum.
• Our mission is to make it easier for generous audiences to discover and support nonprofits that deliver real, lasting results.
• The result? Stronger communities and a better world — one story, one organization at a time.

Want your nonprofit to be considered in the future?

• Learn how to contribute a You Said It article and become part of the Make It Better Foundation’s funding and storytelling network by reading about it here.

Want to Get Involved?

• Interested in supporting the awards as a Sponsor, Judge, or Media Partner? Please contact: [email protected]
  Attn: Mindy Fauntleroy, President or Susan B. Noyes, Founder

Meet Past Winners

We are proud to honor the inspiring, innovative nonprofits who have received this award — and the dedicated teams behind them. Read their stories and more on Better.net

Email [email protected] for more information.