Nonprofit Excellence 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
• 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
• 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.

• 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
• Monica Nichol, The Lighthouse Group at Morgan Stanley
• Tim Patterson, Foley & Lardner LLP

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.

• 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.

• Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater
• Andi Elliott, Community Advocates
• Rob Henken, Wisconsin Policy Forum
• Sherrie Tussler, Hunger Task Force

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
• Milwaukee Ballet
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin

Small (operating budget under $3M)

• 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
• Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp.