Award Categories
We’re here to honor not just what you accomplish, but how you do it!
The Silo Buster Award
Silos never stood a chance at your org.
Your organization has successfully broken down barriers and opened new pathways for cross-functional collaboration—and you’ve seen amazing results such as increased productivity and better organizational outcomes. This award recognizes organizations using Blackbaud technology to create fully interconnected teams that are more unified than ever!
Examples of milestones and proof points that embody the spirit of the award:
- Collaboration is central to your accomplishments.
- Your success metrics are strong across various departments due to enhanced lateral workflows, partnerships, and cross-functional communication.
- You have utilized Blackbaud technology to connect various departments, standardize processes throughout your organization, or significantly improve collaboration with stakeholders.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Changemaker Award
You don’t just adapt to change; you actively embrace it.
Your organization is agile, and you have the evidence to prove it! This award celebrates organizations that have adopted new tech capabilities to overcome challenges and achieve significant results. Tell us how you drove adoption of something new, tested a different approach, or applied a new capability to power up your cause or mission.
Examples of milestones and proof points that illustrate the spirit of the award:
- You can tell a great before and after transformation story.
- You implemented innovative solutions and build new internal workflows or create new digital experiences for your supporters, students, or employees.
- You adopted new functionalities or workflows within the past year that have made a significant impact, highlighted by measurable outcomes.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Fueling Greatness Award
You’ve turned audacious goals into inspiring results.
Your organization has achieved exceptional results that have unlocked new possibilities. This award puts a spotlight on organizations that have reached or exceeded their ambitious goals, whether in their business operations or in fulfilling their missions. We want to celebrate organizations that have leveraged Blackbaud technology to amplify their impact.
Examples of milestones and proof points that illustrate the spirit of the award:
- A new strategic direction was implemented in the past year and achieved notable success.
- You set ambitious goals and surpassed them.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Data Strategist Award
Data is your not-so-secret advantage.
Data is at your fingertips, and your data-fluent organization has turned those insights into meaningful and actionable strategies. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate how data-informed decisions have given them a competitive edge, or how they’ve used data and analytics alongside their Blackbaud solutions to tackle challenges or overcome an obstacle.
Examples of milestones and proof points that illustrate the spirit of the award:
- Your organization has successfully integrated multiple data sources to gain deeper insights, which you’ve acted upon to achieve incredible results.
- You’ve made significant advancements in improving analytics and identifying data patterns that challenge previous assumptions and help re-orient your strategic direction.
- You have fostered a culture where all teams recognize the intrinsic value of data and have become adept at applying data in their daily work to drive significant outcomes.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Futurist Award
Thinking inside the box? No way! You’re a master of tech flexibility.
The status quo has never been a part of your organizational DNA. Your organization leverages automations, integrations, and customizations to extend your Blackbaud solutions, whether low-code, no-code, or pro-code. This award celebrates organizations that can share their story of technological exploration and creativity within Blackbaud’s flexible ecosystem.
Examples of milestones and proof points that illustrate the spirit of the award:
- You can share a comparative analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) before and after the implementation to highlight the improvements achieved.
- You explored a novel or unique approach because a model for your needs didn’t yet exist in the marketplace.
- You leveraged APIs, connectors, or customizations to create efficiencies or improved outcomes.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Outstanding Leadership Award
A leader who empowers teams and pushes boundaries.
Great leaders set a vision and skillfully guide the organization toward that vision. They are purpose-driven and inspirational, energizing their teams to maintain a unified passion for their cause and making tough decisions when course correction is necessary. This award honors an executive-level leader who empowers their teams and drives organizational success.
Examples of actions that exemplify the spirit of the award:
- The leader was instrumental to the success of a specific project or campaign.
- The leader ably influences positive change, effectively communicates their vision, and successfully guides their team to success.
- The leader creates a culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and experimentation, and actively seeks out new ideas and feedback from team members.
Self-nominations will not be accepted. Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025).
The Rising Star Award
A go-getter with exceptional potential in their field.
Inspiration can come from various levels at your organization, including up-and-coming team members who are dedicated to your mission, demonstrate curiosity, and are proactive learners eager to explore new possibilities. This award aims to shine the spotlight on the achievements of high-performing individual contributors or manager-level or below people leaders (non-executive or director level) who constantly strive for success, seek new challenges, and are role models to those around them.
A rising star may be a team member who:
- May be relatively new to your organization but has quickly learned the ropes and is already making a significant impact
- May be a more tenured employee who has demonstrated exceptional growth, taking on increasing levels of responsibility and scope
- Has actively sought opportunities to share their expertise, insights, and advice within your organization and/or with sector peers
- Is seen as a potential future senior leader in your organization
Self-nominations will not be accepted. Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during the past year (2024-2025), and nominated individuals should be manager-level or below, including individual contributors.
Resources
How to Craft an Award-Worthy Nomination for the Blackbaud Impact Awards
We’ve compiled some tips to help you craft a standout nomination and give your nomination the best possible chance at achieving recognition.
Share your story and submit the nomination(s)!
We eagerly await your story and together, let’s shine a light on your mission-driven work.
Get Inspired!
Read about our past winners and finalists, and let their success stories motivate you to highlight your own achievements.