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Celebrating the Region’s Top Corporate Citizens and Nonprofits

BizTimes Media presents the 12th annual awards program to salute southeastern Wisconsin’s best corporate citizens and most effective nonprofit organizations on July 24, 2025. The awards shine a light on excellence in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.

Meet the 2025 Award Finalists

Lifetime Achievement: Given to a philanthropic member of the southeastern Wisconsin business community who for many years has provided significant support (financial or otherwise) for area nonprofit organizations.

Corporate Citizen of the Year – Legacy Leader: Recognizes for-profit companies with a long-standing, sustained history of philanthropic excellence and deep partnerships with nonprofits.

• Baird
• Milwaukee Tool
• Northwestern Mutual

Corporate Citizen of the Year – Community Catalyst: Honors for-profit companies that have made significant impact through grassroots efforts, volunteerism, and creative community involvement.

• Landmark Credit Union
• Lannon Stone
• Rebel Converting

Volunteer of the Year: Given to a for-profit volunteer who demonstrates outstanding dedication to a nonprofit or multiple nonprofit organizations. Active volunteerism can be ongoing or linked to a specific single project or cause.

• Robert Arzbaecher, Carmen Schools of Science & Technology
• Amber Cochran, StaffWyze
• Phyllis King, Waukesha County Technical College
• Julie Tolan, Lauber Business Partners

In-Kind Supporter: Given to a company or individual working on behalf of the company that provides pro-bono work or other in-kind services (such as materials, skills, or matched-based volunteering) to help a nonprofit organization or multiple organizations accomplish their mission.

• Bader Rutter
• Garland Alliance, Inc.
• iLevel Media
• Mueller Communications

Next Generation Leadership:  Given to for-profit, (under 40 year-old) businessperson who demonstrates leadership and significant contributions to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through active leadership on a board and/or strategic management/guidance.

• Max Mann, Baird
• Adam Puzach, Pack Logix
• Paige Radke, UMB Bank

Innovation in Education: Recognizes an initiative or program at a K-12 school, college or university that demonstrates a unique approach to helping prepare the next generation of talent for success in the workforce and in life, with an emphasis placed on innovative ideas and demonstrated outcomes.

• Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Marshall High School, Bay View High School
• LAUNCH
• Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN Schools)
• Messmer High School

Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year: Recognizes a collaborative project that encompasses developed collaborative relationships with other nonprofit organizations engagement of multiple stakeholders within the community being served and innovation in approaching a community problem or issue and have leveraged these relationships to make and even more meaningful impact in the community. Note: since this award recognizes a project that may involve multiple organizations or individuals, it may be “awarded” to more than one part of the project in recognition of their contributions.

• Community Development Alliance, LISC Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, American Family Institute, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, City of Milwaukee
• FUSE – MKE Tech Hub, Higher Education Regional Alliance, MSOE, Marquette University, UW-Milwaukee, Associated Bank, Northwestern Mutual, Molson Coors, Rockwell Automation, WEC Energy Group, Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute
• Rogers Behavioral Health and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin

Nonprofit Executive of the Year: Given to a nonprofit leader who demonstrates vision and innovation in advancing the mission of the nonprofit extensive involvement in a nonprofit and/or creativity in bringing new resources and opportunities to the nonprofit.

• Kurt Owens, Bridge Builders
• Patrick Landry, Notre Dame School of Milwaukee
• Tiffany Tardy, PEARLS For Teen Girls
• Brandon Hill, Vivent Health

Nonprofit (Organization) of the Year: Given to a nonprofit organization (not an individual) in recognition for creativity and innovation in building a sustainable organization excellence in teamwork and an outstanding dedication to the organization’s mission in the community organizational excellence in management and operations. –

Large (operating budget $3M and above)

• i.c.stars Milwaukee
• Meta House
• Rooted & Rising Washington Park

Small (operating budget under $3M)

• Bay View Community Center
• City on a Hill
• Eras Senior Network

Social Enterprise: Recognizes a venture within a non-profit organization that generates revenue through selling products or services, with the primary goal of achieving a social mission rather than maximizing profit, reinvesting most of the earned income back into the organization’s programs to address social issues.

• Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation
• Kinship Community Food Center
• St. Vincent de Paul of Waukesha County

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• 2024 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2023 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2022 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2021 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2020 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2019 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2018 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2017 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2016 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Awards
• 2014 Nonprofit Excellence Awards