Nonprofit Excellence Awards

BizTimes Media presents the 11th annual awards program to salute southeastern Wisconsin’s best corporate citizens and most effective nonprofit organizations on July 25, 2024. The awards shine a light on excellence in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.

READ MORE: Winners announced for 2024 Nonprofit Excellence Awards

Event Details

Thursday, July 25, 2024
Italian Community Center
2:30 – 6:00 pm

2:30 | Registration
3:00 | Awards Program
4:30 | Networking Reception

Celebrating the Region’s Top Corporate Citizens and Nonprofits

Join BizTimes Media in recognizing the region’s top nonprofits and corporate citizens at the 2024 Nonprofit Excellence Awards.

These nonprofits and corporate citizens go above and beyond to create a lasting impact in the lives of those they serve and have truly made a difference in our community. You will be inspired by thought-provoking and heartfelt acceptance speeches from influential figures who have dedicated their lives to social change and community development.

The excitement doesn’t end with the awards ceremony; it continues with an exclusive networking and cocktail reception. We invite you to stay and mingle with the finalists, honorees, and fellow community leaders in an atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration.

Corporate Citizenship Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award: This award is 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.

  • Donald and Donna Baumgartner

Corporate Citizen of the Year: This award is given to a for-profit organization in recognition of its impact to a single or multiple nonprofit organizations through financial contributions collective efforts to promote, encourage and organize fundraising efforts and company-sponsored programs and/or events engaging employees to participate in volunteerism.

  • Generac
  • WINNER: Hydrite
  • Kohl’s
  • WaterStone Bank

Corporate Volunteer of the Year: This award is given to a for-profit non-executive 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.

  • John Kissinger, GRAEF
  • Robert Landwehr
  • Max Stephenson, Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP
  • WINNER: Judie Taylor, DUECO

In-Kind Supporter: This award is given to a professional or company that provides in-kind support to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through any type of non-financial contributions.

  • WINNER: MGIC
  • Source TEN

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

  • Nadiyah Johnson, Jet Constellations
  • Anthony Mlachnik, NorthRock Partners
  • WINNER: Monica Nichol, The Lighthouse Group at Morgan Stanley
  • Tim Patterson, Foley & Lardner LLP

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Nonprofit Awards

Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year: This award 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.

  • WINNER: Think Ability Wisconsin: Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Department of Workforce Development, Islands of Brilliance, Disability:IN Wisconsin, Engauge Workforce Solutions, Friendship Circle and MATC
  • Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
  • St. Francis Children’s Center, Penfield Children’s Center and Curative Care Network
  • WRTP|BIG STEP, Milwaukee Building Trades Council, MPS, Southwest Milwaukee Trades Consortium and Employ Milwaukee

Nonprofit Executive of the Year: This award is 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.

  • WINNER: Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater
  • Andi Elliott, Community Advocates
  • Rob Henken, Wisconsin Policy Forum

Nonprofit (Organization) of the Year: This award is 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) – Small (operating budget under $3M) Large (operating budget $3M and above)

  • Christian Family Solutions Counseling Care & Services
  • WINNER: Milwaukee Ballet
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin

Small (operating budget under $3M)

  • WINNER: All Hands Boatworks
  • HPGM
  • Journey21
  • Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful

Social Enterprise: This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that demonstrates creative application of the principles of social enterprise in the operation and funding of the organization.

  • Food For Health
  • WINNER: Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp.