Celebrating the most innovative nonprofits

The Classy Awards recognize the work of nonprofits that are driving lasting impact around the world. Classy, two of its founders, and GoFundMe are awarding a $90K prize pool to support the initiatives of the winning nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about the 2022 Classy Awards finalists here.

February 8, 2022

Nominations Open

March 15, 2022

Nomination Deadline

April 7, 2022

Top 50 Finalists Announced

June 14, 2022

Winners Announced

Award Categories

Social Innovation

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

Featured: Blood:Water

People’s Choice

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

Featured: Project C.U.R.E.

Adapt & Overcome

An organization that has transformed the structure of their program to conquer an unexpected challenge.

Featured: The Greater Boston Food Bank

Lifetime Achievement

An individual who has achieved excellence over a lifetime of service in the social sector.

Featured: Days for Girls International

Why Apply

Prize Pool

Classy, two of its founders, and GoFundMe are awarding a $90K prize pool to support the Classy Award winners. This award fund will be split evenly between the winning nonprofit organizations.

Visibility

All finalists are evaluated by our Leadership Council, a group of prestigious social sector leaders, and promoted publicly. Winners are featured in a dedicated media relations campaign and provided with assets to share the achievement with their network.

Credibility

Every nominee receives a link to a sharable public profile showcasing the impact of their program, which can be shared with donors and board members.

Celebration

Winners receive two complimentary passes to Classy’s 2022 Collaborative conference and an invitation to an exclusive cocktail reception on June 14, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA.

Meet the 2021 Classy Award Winners

PLAY VIDEO

The Fine Print

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations must be headquartered in the United States, but programs can operate anywhere in the world. Applicants are required to complete a nomination profile with detailed information on their organization and program(s) by the deadline. Nonprofits must verify their 501(c)(3) status via their tax identification number during the nomination 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 scale, scope, and expertise in addressing the problem, ability to solve the problem, creativity of the solution, and organizational effectiveness. Applicants will be enrolled in all award categories.