The Future 50 celebrates businesses powering the region’s economy into the future.
Don’t miss your chance to be recognized among the region’s fastest growing companies. The process is simple. If your company meets four basic criteria, complete the short application. Winners will be formally recognized at the awards luncheon in September and with profiles in BizTimes Milwaukee magazine.
Thank you for your applications. Winners will be announced in July.
- Headquartered in the 9-county southeastern Wisconsin region
- Private ownership (not a subsidiary, franchise or division)
- Growth in sales and employment (averaged over the past three years)
- In business for at least three years
* Previous 3-time winners and businesses owned by private investment firms based in the region are eligible for recognition
Leaders in their industry | Employers of choice | Expanding their operations | Innovative and ambitious
BizTimes Media presents the 12th annual awards program to salute southeastern Wisconsin’s best corporate citizens and most effective nonprofit organizations.
Awards Program: July 24, 2025 at the Italian Community Center
Nomination Deadline: April 18, 2025
Nonprofit Award Categories
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.
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.
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)
Social Enterprise: This award 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.
Innovation in Education (New in 2025): Awarded to 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.
Corporate Citizenship Award Categories
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.
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.
Volunteer of the Year: This award is 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.
In-Kind Supporter: This award is 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.
Next Generation Leadership: This award is 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.
