Celebrating the Impact of Innovative Nonprofits

Started in 2009, the Classy Awards recognize nonprofits for their unique approaches and impact on our world. Decided by a well-respected group of judges, the Classy Awards bring together groundbreaking nonprofits and impact leaders to honor the achievements driving lasting change around the globe.

Finalists will be announced on April 6, 2023.

January 17, 2023

Nominations Open

March 10, 2023

Nomination Deadline

April 6, 2023

Top 50 Finalists Announced

June 7, 2023

Winners Announced

Benefits of a Classy Award

Public Recognition

Thanks to our partnership with Upworthy, winners will be featured on their website and social media channels, which collectively have 16 million+ followers across platforms. Winners are also featured in a dedicated media relations campaign and provided with tools to share the achievement with their network.

Collaborative Passes

Finalists receive two complimentary passes to Classy’s 2023 Collaborative conference on June 7-8, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA, and are invited to attend celebrations throughout the event.

Community of Leaders

All finalists are evaluated by our Leadership Council, a group of social sector leaders, and have exclusive opportunities to build connections with these individuals at Collaborative.

Award Categories

Social Innovation

The 10 most innovative nonprofits, selected by the Leadership Council.

Featured: Blood:Water

People’s Choice

The nonprofit most deserving of recognition, as voted on by the general public.

Featured: Project C.U.R.E.

Meet the 2022 Classy Award Winners

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The Fine Print

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations must be headquartered in the United States, but programs can operate anywhere in the world. Nonprofits must verify their 501(c)(3) status via their tax identification number during the application process.

Programs

Classy Awards are awarded to organizations at the programmatic level. 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. Programs must have at least one year of measurable results.

Criteria

All Classy Awards nominations will be scored based on problem knowledge, innovative approach, ability to solve the problem, and overall effectiveness. Winners are determined by a well-respected group of social sector leaders.