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, and it’s enabled by more connected systems and clearer, more consistent access to information.
- Your success metrics are strong across various departments due to enhanced lateral workflows, partnerships, and cross-functional communication.
- You’ve used Blackbaud solutions to connect departments, standardize processes throughout your organization, or significantly improve collaboration with stakeholders.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
The Changemaker Award
You don’t just adapt to change; you actively embrace it.
Your organization is agile, and unafraid to try something new–and you have the evidence to prove it! This award celebrates organizations that have adopted new tech capabilities, including AI-powered and data analytics tools within Blackbaud solutions, 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, built new intelligent workflows, or created new digital experiences for your supporters, students, or employees.
- You adopted new functionalities or workflows within the past year, including AI features and technologies, that have made a significant impact, highlighted by measurable outcomes.
- Your organization demonstrated a willingness to experiment, learn, and iterate—using technology not just to optimize existing processes, but to reimagine what’s possible.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
The Fueling Greatness Award
You’ve turned audacious goals into inspiring results.
Your organization has achieved exceptional outcomes that unlocked new possibilities by pairing bold vision with smart execution. This award puts a spotlight on organizations that reached or exceeded ambitious goals, whether in their business operations or in fulfilling their missions.
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 achieved or surpassed them.
- AI-powered tools helped you identify growth opportunities or optimize performance and accelerated goal achievement.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
The Data Strategist Award
Data and intelligent insights are your not-so-secret advantage.
Your organization puts data to work, turning insights into meaningful, actionable strategies that drive smarter decisions and measurable impact. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate how data-informed decisions and/or AI-powered insights have given them a competitive edge, or how they’ve used data and analytics alongside their Blackbaud solutions to uncover trends, tackle challenges or overcome obstacles.
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’ve paired a strong analytics foundation with intelligent, data-informed capabilities to surface insights faster and have acted upon them.
- 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 2025-2026.
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, AI agents, 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’ve deployed AI agents to help you reimagine what’s possible.
- You leveraged APIs, connectors, or customizations to create efficiencies or improved outcomes.
Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
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.
- The leader champions responsible AI adoption to drive organizational growth and expand what teams can achieve.
Self-nominations will not be accepted. Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
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.
- Champions their team’s adoption of Blackbaud AI capabilities to create greater efficiencies and scale impact.
- Is seen as a potential future senior leader in your organization.
Self-nominations will not be accepted. Submissions should feature accomplishments that occurred during 2025-2026.
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.
Get Inspired!
Read about our winners and finalists, and let their success stories motivate you to highlight your own achievements.